Medication Safety

Using potassium permanganate for skin conditions or wound care

15 November 2021Potassium permanganate is a chemical product. We review the evidence for using it in wound care and highlight the risk of severe harm associated with wrong use.

Understanding safety risks with betamethasone soluble tablets used as mouthwash

9 July 2021Serious side effects can be caused if betamethasone soluble tablets used as mouthwash are swallowed. Providing clear patient directions can help prevent harm

Quality Improvement Alert - Cold Chain Management of COVID-19 Vaccines

19 May 2021An SPS quality improvement alert to highlight the requirements for safe and effective cold storage of COVID-19 vaccines

Including medicines with Risk Minimisation Measures (RMM) in PGDs

16 March 2021Medicines with RMM may not be suitable for inclusion within Patient Group Directions (PGDs). If used, the RMM must be stated within the PGD.

Good governance guidance when handling multiple COVID-19 vaccines

2 March 2021Practice points to ensure good governance when planning or designing vaccination services where multiple vaccines are used.

Safe practice for handling multiple COVID-19 vaccines

2 March 2021A number of COVID-19 vaccines are available, all with different handling and dosing requirements; sites need to plan to reduce the risk of errors

Guidance on issuing the Steroid Emergency Card in adults

1 March 2021The NHS England and NHS Improvement national patient safety alert (NatPSA) has specified a number of actions that organisations need to implement.

SPS Advice Note: Interim position statement 3; BD Field Safety Notice (FSN) and intraocular injections (BD and other syringes)

18 February 2021Advice following the issue of the BD Urgent Field Safety Notice MPS-18-1209 regarding the use of BD and BBraun (Medline) syringes for intraocular injections.

Suitability of BBraun NRFit Lock Syringes with BBraun NRFit Syringe Caps for storage of injectable medicines

20 January 2020The NHS Pharmaceutical Aseptic Services Group published its requirements for the introduction of NRFit neuraxial syringes and caps for the purposes of drug storage on…

Off-label or unlicensed product use under HMR 2012 exemptions

8 January 2020A legal position summary regarding the sale, supply or administration of off-label/unlicensed products under Schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012

SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service

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