Medicines management

Deprescribing: the fightback against polypharmacy has begun

Polypharmacy among older people is at an all-time high, prompting a necessary focus on withdrawing inappropriate medicines. However, evidence-based guidelines are needed to overcome barriers to deprescribing.…

Tipping the scales: the problem of drug dosing in obese patients

As obesity levels rise, pharmacists are finding they need new tools to ensure they adequately tailor the amount of medicine patients receive.…

Palliative management in end-stage liver disease

Early palliative interventions, including reviewing regular medicines and managing common symptoms, enables patients to remain comfortable during end-of-life care.…

Improving and standardising the management of controlled drugs

Ensuring the safe and effective management of controlled drugs is an important role for pharmacists, particularly in secondary care.…

A day in the life of an ambulance service pharmacist

Julia Whettam details a typical day as a senior pharmacist at the North West Ambulance Service clinical hub.…

Could the tragedy at Gosport hospital happen again?

The inquiry report into the scandal at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Hampshire, where at least 450 patients died between 1989 and 2000, makes chilling reading.…

Diagnosis and management of type 1 diabetes mellitus

An overview of management options for type 1 diabetes, the types of insulin, insulin regimens and strengths available for its day-to-day management as well as how to adjust doses and the role of carbohydrate counting and blood glucose monitoring.…

Ignorance is not bliss: why we need more empowered patients

Shared decision-making should become a mandatory part of training for all healthcare professionals to improve collaboration with their patients, save the NHS billions, and ultimately improve patient outcomes, say Aseem Malhotra and Sue Bailey.…

PM recognises pharmacist for ‘pioneering’ breastfeeding helpline

Community pharmacist Wendy Jones has been recognised by prime minister Theresa May with a Point of Light award for a career dedicated to providing medicines safety advice to breastfeeding women.…

More than a fifth of housebound patients referred to GP following domiciliary MURs

Around a fifth (21.6%) of housebound patients were referred to their GP after pharmacists carried out domiciliary medicines use reviews, a study has found.…