Medicines management

Pharmacists to improve provision of palliative care medicines under proposed five-year strategy

The Scottish government has set out plans to provide better access to high-quality palliative care by 2030, as well as the provision of clear medicines information for patients and their families.…

Patient safety improvement and medicines waste targeted by repeat prescribing toolkit

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society says the new resource is the first national good practice guidance on repeat prescribing published in 20 years.…

Prescribing dilemma: balancing risk and benefits of off-label migraine treatment in a child

The second of a new series of articles exploring real-world dilemmas that pharmacist prescribers encounter in clinical practice.…

Lipid-lowering therapies for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care

An overview of updated guidance relating to the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease can be applied in practice, considering the availability of newer medications.…

Prescribing dilemma: balancing risk and benefit when treating sertraline sexual dysfunction

The first of a new series of articles exploring real-world dilemmas that pharmacist prescribers encounter in clinical practice.…

One-third of adult social care providers say medicines support from community pharmacy has improved over past year

Respondents to the Care Quality Commission survey said they typically received advice from community pharmacy on medicines side effects, over-the-counter medicine and safe medicines administration.…

Managing and reducing polypharmacy when prescribing

An overview of the challenges that multiple medicines management may present for prescribers, with advice on approaches prescribing pharmacists can adopt to best support patients.…

Pharmacists in primary care should be ‘enabled to prioritise’ structured medication reviews, says RPS

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society policy statement says primary care networks must recognise that they are accountable for delivering structured medication reviews.…

Nearly half of long-term antidepressant users could safely taper off medication using helpline

Participants with access to psychological support through online or phone helplines reported better mental wellbeing after discontinuation of antidepressants.…

Hospital trust to develop AI tool for translating medicines information

The technology will translate medicine instructions into different languages to improve medicines adherence and patient safety.…