Publications

Topics: Publications

We publish recommendations and resources, together with a host of other material for the benefit of our users.

Most recent

Spotlight, April 2025

A digest of NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service support for professionals working in all areas of the healthcare system for April 2025.

Intravenous hyoscine butylbromide

SPS PGD template for administering intravenous hyoscine butylbromide for imaging investigations by registered Radiographers.

Spotlight, March 2025

A digest of NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service support for professionals working in all areas of the healthcare system for March 2025.

Cytisinicline for smoking cessation

SPS PGD template for supply of cytisinicline to support smoking cessation in specified individuals.

Gadopiclenol contrast agent

SPS PGD template for administering gadopiclenol intravenously for imaging investigations and procedures by registered Radiographers.

Registration required

New Product Evaluations

A list of new product evaluations that are freely available to NHS staff.

Varenicline for smoking cessation

SPS PGD template for supply of varenicline to support smoking cessation in specified individuals.

Occupational health services explainer videos

Short videos explaining medicines mechanisms in occupational health services, including written instructions.

Medication Safety Update

A resource collating the latest medication safety communications and publications to inform, support and inspire medication safety improvements.

PGD planning explainer videos

Short videos explaining how to plan for the development of new, or review of existing Patient Group Directions (PGDs).

Articles

Ziconotide: informing intrathecal risk assessment

Ziconotide products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration

Clonidine: informing intrathecal risk assessment

Clonidine products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration

Unlicensed medicines podcast series

A series of podcasts about unlicensed medicines

What’s new in medicines mechanisms and governance PGDs

An update for those involved in medicines governance including managing PGDs and other medicine mechanisms in practice. 13 May 2025.

Investigating deviations and establishing root causes in aseptic services

An SPS Quality Assurance (QA) bite size learning event on deviation investigation and establishing root causes in pharmacy aseptic services. 27 June 2025.

Baclofen: informing intrathecal risk assessment

Baclofen products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration

Developing insulin safety across a system

Strategies, signposting and initiatives to support safer use of insulin.

Primary care discussions: biosimilar insulin

Discussion about implementing biosimilar insulin in primary care: key considerations, hints, and tips for systems planning the transition. 10 June 2025.

Articles

Ziconotide: informing intrathecal risk assessment

Ziconotide products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration

Clonidine: informing intrathecal risk assessment

Clonidine products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration

Unlicensed medicines podcast series

A series of podcasts about unlicensed medicines

What’s new in medicines mechanisms and governance PGDs

An update for those involved in medicines governance including managing PGDs and other medicine mechanisms in practice. 13 May 2025.

Investigating deviations and establishing root causes in aseptic services

An SPS Quality Assurance (QA) bite size learning event on deviation investigation and establishing root causes in pharmacy aseptic services. 27 June 2025.

Baclofen: informing intrathecal risk assessment

Baclofen products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration

Developing insulin safety across a system

Strategies, signposting and initiatives to support safer use of insulin.

Primary care discussions: biosimilar insulin

Discussion about implementing biosimilar insulin in primary care: key considerations, hints, and tips for systems planning the transition. 10 June 2025.

Articles, Bulletins

Registration required

New Product Evaluations

A list of new product evaluations that are freely available to NHS staff.

Medication Safety Update

A resource collating the latest medication safety communications and publications to inform, support and inspire medication safety improvements.

SPS Horizon Scanning

Know what medicines are in the pipeline. Understand the strategic and operational challenges for the NHS. Start planning early.

Welcoming the Web Assistant pilot

The Web Assistant will help you to answer questions about medicines in patients with swallowing difficulties.

New Medicines News

Articles, Research and audits

Patient Group Directions e-learning programme

E-learning developed by SPS in partnership with UKHSA, HEE and eLfH to support professionals who use, develop, authorise, review or update PGDs.

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…

Auditing Patient Group Directions

SPS have developed a template audit tool to support organisations in auditing aspects of PGD development and use.

Using medicines under PGD as part of a clinical trial or study

Advice on the use of Patient Group Directions (PGDs) to supply or administer a medication which is part of a clinical trial, study or pilot

Wholesale Distribution Authorisation Audit Edition 1 August 2014 (Yellow Cover)

Pharmacy Intrathecal Chemotherapy Audit Aide Memoire 4th Edition (Yellow Cover)

This audit document is intended to be used to audit Pharmacy aspects of the safe administration of intrathecal chemotherapy, as part of the EL(97)52 Audit…

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