The first stop for professional medicines advice

Events

Next events
Our forthcoming conferences and webinars covering a range of Medicines Optimisation issues with SPS and other great speakers and presenters.
Past Events
Search our library of past events for recordings, presentations, and interviews with speakers, all to inform your practice.

Recommended articles

Written Instruction for the administration of seasonal ‘flu vaccination
Advice on using written instructions for the administration of 'flu vaccinations to healthcare staff.
Vaccinating25 August 2021
Using opioids for pain relief during pregnancy
Opioid analgesics may be used at any stage of pregnancy at the lowest effective dose for the short-term relief of pain when other analgesics are not effective
Tramadol + Paracetamol10 August 2022
Compatibility of nebuliser solution combinations
Guidance on what to consider when mixing nebuliser solutions and advice on which combinations are compatible.
Tobramycin22 June 2022
Considerations for monkeypox vaccination
Considerations for giving vaccine pre or post exposure during a monkeypox incident.
Smallpox vaccine30 May 2022
Prescribing available HRT products
Hormone Replacement Therapy availability varies currently. Check for available products and keep up-to-date. Supply content is maintained regularly by DHSC.
Supply28 April 2022
Intrathecal administration
Understand what to consider when giving medicines via the intrathecal route and use our material to help inform your risk assessment

COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccines
Information and guidance from across SPS on pharmaceutical aspects of COVID-19 vaccines’ use
COVID-19 Treatments
Guidance for Chief Pharmacists and supporting documents to achieve Institutional Readiness and deployment of COVID-19 Treatments
COVID-19 Medicines Optimisation
Resources and tools to support Medicines Optimisation activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Recommended in PGDs

Templates
National PGD templates are developed with experts for clinical specialties. They reduce duplication and variation, and improve consistency of care.
How to develop a Patient Group Direction
A step by step guide to help organisations and individuals navigate all stages of the PGD development process
Summary advice9 June 2022
When Patient Group Directions are not required
Guidance on when PGDs should not be used and advice on alternative mechanisms for supply and administration of medicines
Trusts29 June 2022

Planning

Medicines Supply Tool
Latest information on supply issues, actions to take, alternatives to use, and expected resolution dates. Content provided by DHSC and CMU.
Annual medicines planning
Our annual Prescribing Outlook outputs support planning, implementation and budget planning for medicines every year.
New Medicines Updates
Regularly updated new medicines material, in addition to our annual outputs
Patent Expiry Updates
Regularly updated patent expiry material, in addition to our annual outputs
Biosimilars Updates
Regularly updated biosimilars material, in addition to our annual outputs. Includes specific information on ranibizumab for ocular use.

Recommended for primary care

Medicines Monitoring
Summarised recommendations and guidance for medicines requiring monitoring to save you time when you're making monitoring decisions with patients
Swallowing difficulties
All our advice on using medicines safely and effectively in patients with swallowing difficulties
Safety in breastfeeding
All our training and guidance to help decision making about the use of medicines in breastfeeding
Safety in pregnancy
All our training and guidance to help decision making about the use of medicines in pregnancy
Example medicines to prescribe by brand name in primary care
Prescribe certain medicines by brand to ensure supply of the same product. Examples are grouped by therapeutic area. The list of products is not exhaustive.
Transplantation27 March 2022