The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPhO) for England, David Webb, has written to the community pharmacy sector about the Pharmacy First service in an end of year letter. Whilst thanking pharmacy colleagues for making a “valuable contribution” to the NHS this year, the CPhO notes that the agreement of the national Pharmacy First service marks a
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has via its Central Alerting System (CAS) published a letter on 14 December 2023 advising that due to increasing flu levels in the community, Prescribers working in primary care may now prescribe, and community pharmacists may now supply antiviral medicines (oseltamivir and zanamivir) for the prophylaxis and treatment
Read moreDrug alert number: EL (23)A/44 Date issued: 14 December 2023 The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a class 3 medicines recall for: Posaconazole Biocon 100mg Gastro-resistant Tablets (Biocon Pharma UK Limited) PL 50674/0011 SNOMED Code: N/A Batch Number Expiry Date Pack Size First Distributed BF22004504 Dec-2024 12 x 8 27th April
Read moreFollowing discussions between Community Pharmacy England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding medicine pricing issues reported by pharmacy owners, the Department has today (14/12/2023) announced the following initial list of price concessions for December 2023. Community Pharmacy England has received a large number of reports of products not available at their
Read moreThe October 2023 Drug Tariff was updated to include a deadline for submission of any outstanding referred back (unpaid) prescriptions to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) for payment. Following this update, NHSBSA has seen a spike in the number of referred back prescriptions submitted by pharmacies in the past month. The January 2024 Drug
Read moreClass 4 Medicines Defect Information: Clobazam 5mg/5ml and 10mg/5ml oral suspension (Atnahs Pharma UK Limited) Drug alert number: EL(23)A/43 Date issued: 13 December 2023 The Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a class 4 medicines defect information notice for: Clobazam 5mg/5ml and 10mg/5ml oral suspension (Atnahs Pharma UK Limited) Company name: Atnahs
Read moreNational Patient Safety Alert: Potential for inappropriate dosing of insulin when switching insulin degludec (Tresiba®) products National Patient Safety Alert Reference Number: NatPSA/2023/016/DHSC Date issued: 8th December 2023 Brief description of the problem A Medicine Supply Notification issued on 24 May 2023, detailed a shortage of Tresiba® (insulin degludec) FlexTouch® 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that sufficient stock of Estradot® 100mcg patches are now available to meet normal demand. As a result the Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP), SSP057 Estradot® 100mcg patches at 23.59pm on Friday 8 December 2023. After this date, any prescriptions for Estradot® 100mcg patches must be dispensed in accordance
Read moreNational Patient Safety Alert: Potential contamination of some carbomer-containing lubricating eye products with Burkholderia cenocepacia – measures to reduce patient risk National Patient Safety Alert Reference Number: NatPSA/2023/01 Date issued: 7th December 2023 Brief description of the problem UKHSA is investigating an outbreak of Burkholderia cenocepacia involving individuals across the UK. This is an emerging
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has opened a consultation on proposals to update legislation around the supervision of activities by a pharmacist in a pharmacy. The consultation sets out proposals to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and The Human Medicines Regulations 2012, which would allow: pharmacists to authorise (not directly supervise) pharmacy technicians to carry out, or supervise
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