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Practice support for the Medication Safety Officer (MSO)

Last updated See all updates
Topics: Medication SafetyTraining and Development

An infrastructure of support opportunities exists that MSOs should utilise to deliver their role most effectively

This article forms part of a series
  1. The Medication Safety Officer (MSO) role
    1. Practice support for the Medication Safety Officer (MSO)
    2. Learning from medication safety events
    3. Reporting and management of medication safety events
    4. Conducting a medication incident investigation
    5. Collaboration opportunities to improve medication safety
    6. Responding to medication safety alerts and notifications
    7. Understanding medication safety policy and frameworks
    8. Using the Medication Safety Update effectively

Contents

  1. Routes of support
  2. National MSO network
  3. National MSO network lead
  4. Regional MSO network
  5. Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
  6. Mentoring
  7. Update history

Routes of support

The MSO will receive managerial and professional support from their line manager and other individuals working collaboratively within the organisation. In addition, there are several external support channels.

National MSO network

The national MSO network was established in response to the NHS England National Patient Safety Alert “Improving medication error incident reporting and learning”. The MSO network is a sharing and supportive network owned by the MSOs and supported by the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), NHS England (NHSE) and the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to improve medication safety for patients.

MSOs can use the discussion forum on the MSO Workspace on the Future NHS Platform (Login required) or the monthly webinar chat to ask for support from their peers. For more information on the monthly national MSO webinar see Collaboration opportunities to improve medication safety (SPS page).

The MSO workspace also hosts resources shared by MSOs for MSOs and previous webinar recordings.

National MSO network lead

SPS provide support for the national MSO network via the MSO Network Lead, Medicines Use and Safety. They are the voice for all MSOs at a national level and the role involves contributing to national medication safety priorities and initiatives.

The national MSO network lead participates in the network steering group, which oversees the activities of the network and provides expert and strategic support for MSOs. The group consists of NHSE, MHRA, and SPS specialists. The group set the agenda and deliver the monthly MSO webinar.

For support MSOs should contact the national MSO network lead via email at lnwh-tr.sps-mso@nhs.net

Regional MSO network

Being an active member of the regional MSO network can provide an MSO with a supportive environment for both development and collaboration.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)

The RPS has a number of publications and resources available on its website with professional help, guidance and advice.

Mentoring

There is currently no formal training specific to the MSO role, but collaboration opportunities can provide invaluable peer-to-peer support.

The MSO network lead facilitates a mentorship scheme to support MSOs new to post, develop more senior MSOs and provide experienced MSOs with the opportunity to share their expertise. The scheme is available to any MSO interested in having individualised support from a more senior MSO, as well as any experienced MSOs wanting to develop as a mentor.

Email the national MSO network lead on lnwh-tr.sps-mso@nhs.net to join this scheme.

Update history

  1. Republished
  2. Full review and update.
  1. Published