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Contractor Notice: Further extension to SSP06 – Fluoxetine 40mg capsules

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has provided an update on the Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (SSP06). SSP06 for Fluoxetine 40mg capsules was previously expected to expire on 10th August but the end date has been further extended to 4th September 2020. This expiry date may be brought forward...

2 hours ago

Availability of Evorel products (Theramex) – Updated

Following the recent supply problems for the Evorel range of products, Theramex have provided this further update. ‘Following the acquisition of Evorel by Theramex in October 2019, we have worked tirelessly with multiple manufacturing partners to resupply the product in the UK market. Since February 2020, we have produced nearly 750,000 packs across the Evorel...

5 hours ago

Update on new flexible approaches to flu vaccination service

An update on the new flexible approaches being considered for support the provision of the flu vaccination service has been released. Contractors must note that the changes PSNC is seeking to the flu vaccination service, described in the update, have not yet been agreed and may never be agreed. On 3rd July 2020, PSNC published...

3 days ago

Palliative Care Formulary Service

West Yorkshire-wide Palliative Care Formulary Service

NHSE&I Letter - Updated Palliative Care Formulary April 2020

Palliative Care - SLA

Palliative Care - Revised Formulary

PharmOutcomes - Instructions for Use

Resources

Contact Details for Specialist Palliative Care Services

Briefing Note for Pharmacies Providing the Palliative Care Service

Bulletins

Important Reminder for Palliative Care Pharmacies - May 2020

Pharmacies commissioned to provide this service stock a locally agreed list of medicines and make a commitment to ensure that the users of the service have prompt access to these medicines, in response to the presentation of an NHS prescription, during the pharmacies' contracted opening hours.

Please note: Other pharmacies will routinely stock many, if not all, of these drugs as part of their usual dispensary stock.

In the event of there being insufficient stock to fill an immediate need the pharmacy will liaise with another community pharmacy in the service with stock and/or other local community pharmacies. The pharmacy will aim to locate a pharmacy with sufficient in-date stock and request that they reserve that stock for collection by the user. If no further stock can be located the pharmacy will contact the prescriber to discuss a suitable alternative.

This service is available within the pharmacies opening hours only (available from NHS Choices www.nhs.uk). Outside these hours requests should be directed to the Out of Hours Service Provider for the relevant area.

Interim Variation Notice (May 2020) - COVID-19 End Of Life Care Drugs

This variation sets out additional requirements of the community pharmacy palliative care service in response to COVID-19; it should be read in conjunction with the existing service agreement.

Palliative Care Interim Variation - May 2020

The previous service ended on 30th April 2018. Please see Termination Letter below.

Palliative Care - Termination Letter - 15th January 2018

Change to Morphine Injection as First Line Opioid Analgesic across Primary and Secondary Care – Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield - 6th April 2020

Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation NHS Trust together with Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust have made the decision to make a change to use morphine injection as the first line opioid analgesic in palliative care across primary and secondary care from Monday 6th April 2020. More information can be found under the area headings below.

Palliative Care - General

The novel “wheel” or “spider diagram” format of this guideline was developed by St Gemma’s Hospice over 15 years ago, to support

the safe conversion between different opioids
enable the safe administration of the same opioid by a different route
to calculate and check the accuracy of “PRN” doses of opioids for patients receiving regular opioids

St Gemma’s clinical team, including Professor Michael Bennett, St Gemma’s Professor of Palliative Medicine, have updated the guideline in line with current company data and seminal specialist palliative care resources.

Although the current (2006) version of the guideline was never formally distributed to non-specialist palliative care providers across Leeds, many have a copy and have found it a useful resource.

The updated 2016 guideline is now approved for use by both specialist and non-specialist palliative care use across Leeds, supported by a project led by the Leeds Palliative Care Managed Clinical Network (MCN).

It is expected that non-specialists will predominantly continue to use the guide as a checking tool. If any discrepancies or queries arise during this checking process the prescriber must be contacted.

Prescribers are responsible for their own decisions. It is imperative to read the notes on the right hand side of the document and seek specialist palliative care advice as needed.

The Leeds Opioid Conversion Guide For Adult Palliative Care Patients 2016 is available as a PDF document on: