Mark Borthwick

Consultant pharmacist for critical care

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust

The 20-year path to placing specialist pharmacists in all critical care units

With the launch of a new advanced pharmacist curriculum for critical care, a leading pharmacist in the field outlines the specialism’s progress over two decades.…

Intravenous fluids: principles of treatment

Intravenous fluid therapy can be used to replace large fluid losses or to maintain fluid status when oral intake is insufficient; appropriate prescribing requires an understanding of basic fluid physiology.…

Delirium: a guide to a common condition

Delirium is not a benign condition — its presence predicts significantly increased morbidity and mortality, often in already vulnerable patient groups. Mark Borthwick and Nina Barnett give an overview of delirium, its prevention, detection and treatment, highlight the latest NICE guidance, and sug…

Intravenous fluid therapy — background and principles

Pharmacists often challenge doctors on their prescribing of drugs, but fewer pharmacists challenge the prescribing of IV fluids. This article describes when and how IV fluids should be used, and which fluids are available.…