Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter May 24

• Adding “Hospital/specialist” medications to a patient’s medication screen on EMIS
• Reminder – MHRA Drug Safety Update 19 April 2022. Pregabalin (Lyrica): findings of safety study on risks
during pregnancy
• Kent and Medway List of New Approved Guidelines from Integrated Medicines Optimisation Committee
(IMOC) April 2024
• Obtaining Anticoagulant alert cards and DOAC booklets
• Methadone Prescribing
• Cost-effective Prescribing of Macrogol Oral Powder Sachets
• PrescQIPP Clinical Masterclass webinars
• UTI diagnostic quick reference tool review consultation - closes 2 June
• MHRA Drug Safety Update
• Shortages Update

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter June 24

• Eprex to Retacrit switch - Message from East Kent Hospitals UFT for GP Practices
• Reminder – Ongoing GLP-1 RA Supply Issues
• GLP-1 RAs for Weight Management / The risks of inadvertent prescribing and dispensing of injectable
semaglutide (Wegovy®& Ozempic®)
• EasyChamber® spacer devices
• MORPh webinar: SMRs & Medicines Optimisation and Sustainability in Respiratory Care
• Pharmacy First
• Reminder for East Kent Practices – Hospital Only Formulary status for Trimetazidine and Sucralfate
• National Patient Safety alert: Shortage of Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT)
• MHRA Drug Safety Update – May 2024
• NICE News – June 2024
• Shortages Summary

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter July 24

• Clozapine prescribing
• Assessment of a pharmacist’s ability to interpret, review, and action CYP2C19 pharmacogenetic reports and obtain pharmacist’s views on the reporting structure – Deadline 26th July 2024.
• Best Practice Guidance (BPG) for Care Homes
• National Patient Safety – Improvement Programmes
• TARGET Antibiotics – Prescribing in Primary Care
• Webinar: Paediatric antimicrobial prescribing in primary care
• Kent and Medway List of New Approved Guidelines
• MHRA Drug Safety Update
• Shortages summary

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter August 24

• Ongoing GLP-1 RA Supply Issues – Quantities and Incidents
• FreeStyle Libre 3
• Clozapine Fact Sheet for Primary Care Clinicians
• An Update on Metolazone (Xaqua®) Prescribing in Kent and Medway ICB
• OpenPrescribing Webinar for Primary Care Teams
• Polypharmacy: Medicines and the Risk of Falls in Older People Lunchtime Masterclass
• MHRA Drug Safety Update – July 2024
• NICE News – August 2024
• Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) support for medicines shortages - PERT

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter  September 24 

• 2024-2045 Medicines Optimisation Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (Previous MOS Scheme)
• Learning from Near Misses during Anticoagulant switching
• GP Practice Support For Patients Under Early Release Scheme
• Valproate Use in Men: Contraception Use
• PrescQipp Prescribing Mastery Webinars
• MHRA Drug safety Update
• Shortages Summary

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter October 24

•  Topiramate- Implementing MHRA Safety Measures in Kent & Medway
• Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidance
• Reporting a Controlled Drug Issue
• Home Use of Nebulised asthma rescue therapy in children
• Salbutamol SPC update
• The adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) service
• REMINDER: Prescribe Apixaban generically
• ScriptSwitch® Prescribing - GP Prescriber Knowledge Centre
• Chlordiazepoxide possible genotoxicity risk and KMPT Alcohol Detox policy update
• Update on the Supply of Semaglutide Injections (Ozempic®) & Prescribing of Tirzepatide Injections (Mounjaro®)
• Ardens Resources for SGLT2i
• Hydroxycarbamide with Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems
• New RPS and RCGP Repeat Prescribing Toolkit will improve safety and efficiency
• MHRA Drug Safety Update
• Shortages Summary
• NICE News Bimonthly – Oct 2024

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter November 24

• Kent and Medway ICB Pain Services Community of Practice Webinar
• Rivaroxaban – generic available – All DOACs MUST be prescribed generically
• Independence Wound Protection and Collection Pouches (VAP range) – Non formulary items
• Reminder – Kent and Medway ICB Forceval® capsules Position Statement
• Opioids- Safer Prescribing and Preferred Cost-effective Brands. Information for General Practice
• MHRA Drug Safety Update – October 2024
• Shortages Summary
• Discontinuation NovoRapid® (insulin aspart) FlexTouch® 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens
• Reminder for East Kent Practices – Oral Morphine Prescribing Resources

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter December 24/ January25

• Reminder - Registering for MHRA Safety Alerts
• ADHD Medication Supply Disruption Update – November 2024
• TARGET webinars
• Varenicline (Champix)
• National Changes to Community Pharmacy Dispensing Regulations: Original Pack Dispensing
• MHRA Drug Safety Update – November 2024
• Nice news
• Shortages Summary
• Shortage of Quetiapine modified release tablets, (Biquelle XL and Brancico XL)
• Shortage of Fiasp (insulin aspart) FlexTouch 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens
• Shortage of Tresiba (insulin degludec) FlexTouch 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens
• Discontinuation of Insulatard® (isophane insulin, human) Penfill® 100units/ml suspension for injection 3ml cartridges
• Discontinuation of saxagliptin/metformin (Komboglyze) 2.5mg/1000mg tablets

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter January25

• Promethazine Prescribing in NHS Kent and Medway
• Promethazine and Promazine – look alike/sound alike prescribing error
• Vitamin D – Medicines or Food Supplement products
• Discontinuation of Ralvo® Plasters
• My mHealth
• MHRA Drug Safety Update – December 2024
• Shortages Summary

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter february 25

• SPS Webinar- MSATS: Safer Use of Insulin- Wednesday 26th March 12:30pm-14:00pm
• Supplies of GLP-1 RAs
• Discontinuation of FreeStyle Libre 2 – Transition to FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
• Vaccination Training Opportunities- Building Skills and Knowledge
• Aerobika mucus clearance device prescribing in primary care
• Tissue Viability training sessions March 2025
• Safety considerations with Urospir: First licensed spironolactone oral solution
• Polypharmacy Masterclasses: Health Innovation Network
• Kent and Medway List of New Approved Guidelines from Integrated Medicines Optimisation Committee (IMOC) January 2025
• Valproate Drug Safety Update
• MHRA Drug Safety Update
• Shortages Update

Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Newsletter March 25

• Update on the implementation of The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal TA 1026: Tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity
• Kent and Medway ICB response to National Patient Safety Alert for PERT
• Buspirone prescribing in primary care
• Asthma + Lung UKs Winter Help Guide
• MHRA Valproate Guidance: Ensuring Safe Prescribing and Risk Minimisation
• MHRA Update
• Shortages Summary