Therapeutic intervention

Prescribing errors in children: why they happen and how to prevent them

Highlighting the potential causes of error when prescribing for children and outlining how pharmacists can support safer prescribing.…

NICE says more evidence needed for newer UTI point-of-care tests

Several newer point-of-care tests were not recommended in latest guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, in which it concluded that more research needs to be carried out on their accuracy.…

Liver cancer: screening, diagnosis and management

An overview of hepatocellular cancer, including diagnosis and the available treatment options.…

Case-based learning: complex decision making when using advanced therapy investigational medicinal products

Advanced therapy investigational medicinal products (ATIMPs) are increasingly the subject of clinical trials. What happens when an ATIMP is necessary for a patient but does not fit the study specifications?…

Pharmacy technician administration of systematic anticancer therapy: an innovative project by the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

As pharmacists take on expanded clinical roles, there is a need to create more opportunities for pharmacy technicians to advance their clinical practice. Oncology is an opportune area for this, owing to workforce challenges. The Northern Cancer Alliance is currently undertaking a non-surgical o…

Black people with cancer more likely to experience heart damage with chemotherapy, study results show

Canadian researchers said they were surprised by their results, which could suggest structural racism within healthcare.…

Government to call for research on effect of ‘Pharmacy First’ schemes on antibiotic use

The National Institute for Health and Care Research's "pre-call" announcement said a common conditions service in England "will commence no earlier than the end of October 2023", subject to successful commissioning.…

Switching patients from IV to oral antimicrobials

IV antimicrobials are important for the effective treatment of infection but there are many benefits to timely switching to oral formulations. This article explains why switching is important, when switches should be considered and how to improve implementation.…

Government working to reintroduce varenicline following contamination concerns

Smoking cessation aid varenicline was recalled by Pfizer in October 2021 owing to the presence of a possible human carcinogen.…

Thousands of NHS patients with prostate or breast cancer eligible for new targeted treatment

NHS England says around 800 people in England could be eligible for olaparib treatment each year.…