SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice

News about us

Transforming the Specialist Pharmacy Service

Why SPS exists and how it's being transformed to better meet the needs of its users

SPS Inaugural Conference 2022

26 January 2022We are planning an exciting conference programme which we hope that you will find interesting and informative. The provisional agenda includes: Welcome from Dr Justine…

COVID-19 Treatments

Preparing Casirivimab 600mg Imdevimab 600mg using 2.5mL vials

Worksheets and instructions for preparing this given dose and volume combination of Ronapreve

Preparing Casirivimab 600mg Imdevimab 600mg using 11.1mL vials

Worksheets and instructions for preparing this given dose and volume combination of Ronapreve

Preparing Casirivimab 1200mg Imdevimab 1200mg using 2.5mL vials

Worksheets and instructions for preparing this given dose and volume combination of Ronapreve

Preparing Casirivimab 1200mg Imdevimab 1200mg using 11.1mL Vials

Worksheets and instructions for preparing this given dose and volume combination of Ronapreve

Using Tocilizumab or Sarilumab for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 who are pregnant

A careful risk assessment should be done on the benefits of this off-label use to the mother, and the risks it poses to the fetus or neonate.

Using Tocilizumab or Sarilumab for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 who are breastfeeding

Tocilizumab and sarilumab can be used off-label to treat hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Breastfeeding can continue if these treatments are required.

Handling casirivimab and imdevimab within Trusts

An outline process and supporting materials to help Trusts deploy Ronapreve

Using casirivimab and imdevimab pandemic packs

Initial supplies of casirivimab and imdevimab will be pandemic packs supplied under a Batch Specific Variation to the conditional marketing authorisation

COVID-19 neutralising monoclonal antibodies and SPS support

Implementation of effective process control is essential to ensure that neutralising monoclonal antibody products are implemented safely.

Getting ready to use casirivimab and imdevimab: guidance for Chief Pharmacists

This guidance for Chief Pharmacists supports the pharmacy institutional readiness for the management of casirivimab and imdevimab in COVID-19 infection.

New and recommended

Medicines Supply Tool

Latest information on supply issues, actions to take, alternatives to use, and expected resolution dates. Content provided by DHSC and CMU.

COVID-19 Treatments

Guidance for Chief Pharmacists and supporting documents to achieve Institutional Readiness and deployment of COVID-19 Treatments

Getting ready to use COVID-19 Vaccines as part of the Schools Vaccination Programme for 12-15 year olds

The responsibilities of Chief Pharmacists and their teams and supply issues pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccines programme role out for 12-15 year olds

Information and guidance specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna

Resources covering pharmaceutical aspects of the vaccination programme specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna

Northern Pharmacy Technical Services Workforce Project Report

These are the detailed and easy read summary reports of the northern pharmacy technical services (PTS) workforce project. They provide a critical analysis of the…

Choosing between oral fidaxomicin options

Local decision makers should choose between the options for giving fidaxomicin orally. Licensing status and other factors affect decision making.

Choosing between oral vancomycin options

Local decision makers should choose between the options for giving vancomycin orally. Licensing status and other factors affect decision making.

Differences in oral tablet mesalazine preparations and considerations when switching

An overview of differences between mesalazine tablet preparations and clinical considerations when switching between preparations.

Safety of topical medicines in porphyria

Topical medicines are safe to use in porphyria when applied to intact skin. Topical oestrogen and progesterone may be a concern in certain types of porphyria.

Switching between oral morphine and other oral opioids in adult palliative cancer care patients

Switching between morphine and alternative opioids requires care and thoughtful application of a stepped process

COVID-19 Vaccines

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 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 AstraZeneca

Resources covering pharmaceutical aspects of the vaccination programme specific to COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

Information and guidance specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna

Resources covering pharmaceutical aspects of the vaccination programme specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna

Recommended in events

SPS Inaugural Conference 2022

26 January 2022We are planning an exciting conference programme which we hope that you will find interesting and informative. The provisional agenda includes: Welcome from Dr Justine…

Older People Pharmacy Network (OPNet) 2021

18 November 2021The impact and legacy of COVID 19: pharmacy support for older people Programme attached We were fortunate to have a number of multidisciplinary speakers to…

Health and Justice Event 2021

23 November 2021This year’s Health and Justice meeting was held on line. The programme is attached below. Learning Outcomes were to help  Gain an understanding of…

Primary Care: Discussions on challenging areas of practice

25 November 2021Summary of this webinar series This is a pilot series of five webinars, aiming to connect specialist pharmacists with primary care pharmacy staff in an…

Recommended in PGDs

Written Instruction for the administration of seasonal ‘flu vaccination

Advice on using written instructions for the administration of 'flu vaccinations to healthcare staff and written instruction templates 2021/22 are available.

Templates

National PGD templates are developed with experts for clinical specialties. They reduce duplication and variation, and improve consistency of care.

Recommended in planning

Registration required

Private: Annual planning advice for new medicines, Prescribing Outlook

Our annual output to support managed entry and budget planning for new medicines, new indications and implications of patent expiry in the NHS.

New Product Evaluations

A list of new product evaluations that are freely available to NHS staff via the internet. The list is updated monthly, and newly published reviews…

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