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.
SPS Inaugural Conference 2022
Our conference was held on 26 April and recordings of the sessions are available below.
Past Events26 April 2022

Recommended articles

Understanding biological and biosimilar medicines
Biosimilar medicines are a type of biological medicine that offer the NHS opportunities to deliver better value for certain conditions
Training and Development materials29 June 2022
Preparing to use ranibizumab biosimilar
Ranibizumab biosimilar needs planning. Ensure you are familiar with the area and then develop an implementation plan working with the multidisciplinary team.
Ranibizumab29 June 2022
Good governance when implementing ranibizumab biosimilar
Governance should consider processes for approval; procurement and supply; prescribing and administration; monitoring; and pharmacovigilance.
Ranibizumab29 June 2022
The licence and supporting evidence for ranibizumab biosimilar
A licensed ranibizumab biosimilar is available from Teva: Ongavia. Learn about the licensed indications and supporting evidence.
Ranibizumab29 June 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
Using smallpox vaccine for monkeypox exposure
Considerations for giving smallpox vaccine pre or post exposure during a monkeypox incident.
Smallpox vaccine30 May 2022
Using transdermal patches safely in healthcare settings
Guidance on strategies for the safe application of transdermal patches to reduce the risk of medication errors in healthcare settings.
Medicines Safety3 May 2022
Vitamin B12 deficiency: treatment during pregnancy
Intramuscular hydroxocobalamin is the preferred treatment choice for management of clinically relevant vitamin B12 deficiency, including during pregnancy.
Safety in Pregnancy25 April 2022
Switching doxazosin XL tablets to doxazosin standard release tablets
Doxazosin XL tablets should not routinely be prescribed. Guidance is provided on switching doxazosin XL tablets to standard release tablets.
Switching12 May 2022
Prescribing by generic or brand name in primary care
Prescribing medicines by generic name is generally preferred but there are some circumstances when brand-name prescribing is warranted.
Primary Care and PCNs27 March 2022

COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments

Information and guidance specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech
Resources covering pharmaceutical aspects of the vaccination programme specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech
Information and guidance specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna
Resources covering pharmaceutical aspects of the vaccination programme specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna
Oral antivirals
Oral antivirals may reduce COVID-19 symptoms, progression, transmission, hospitalisation and mortality. We guide on successful deployment for Chief Pharmacists.
Information and guidance common across vaccines
Resources covering pharmaceutical aspects of the vaccination programme common to all COVID-19 vaccines
Information and guidance specific to COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
Resources covering pharmaceutical aspects of the vaccination programme specific to COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
Pfizer-BioNTech: Handling for Children’s Vaccination
Pharmaceutical processes for Comirnaty (10 micrograms/dose) for Children 5 to 11 years, from initial ordering through to administration for PCNs and Trusts.
Managing risks associated with the introduction of the Comirnaty vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old
Characteristics of Pfizer's Comirnaty vaccines for adults/adolescents and children differ. Teams must understand the differences to ensure safety.
Pfizer-BioNTech: Handling21 January 2022
Using COVID-19 vaccines in women of child bearing potential
Summary information concerning COVID-19 vaccination in women of child-bearing age or who are pregnant
All vaccines: Answers to Questions4 January 2021

Recommended in PGDs

Templates
National PGD templates are developed with experts for clinical specialties. They reduce duplication and variation, and improve consistency of care.
SPS National Medicines Governance Do Once programme – national Patient Group Direction (PGD) exemplar templates
About PGD exemplar templates The attached PGD templates are based on the version being used to develop the national PGD templates as part of the…
Trusts20 June 2019

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