COVID-19 clinical support

Palliative care medicines: see Palliative care section

• Comprehensive and useful list of all national medication related Covid guidance. SEL CCG workbook signposting to national clinical guidance through NICE and SPS to support healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic
• Blood monitoring for patients with LTCs

Priority patients that will gain most benefit:

• at risk of a serious adverse drug event that can be identified through monitoring
• taking a Narrow Therapeutic Index drug during a phase when intensive monitoring is still required (e.g. upon initiation)
• have recently had an illness that may have impacted on how their drug works

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Structured Medication Review

Structured Medication Review for Diabetes Webinar – 19 August 2020

Mental health structured medication review webinar – 13 August 2020

Structured Medication Review for heart failure and hypertension webinar – 11 August 2020

ACEi/ARBs

• Current expert consensus on ACEi/ ARBs and COVID

MHRA: no concern with COVID. Do not stop

Anticoagulation

• National guidance. Includes advice on management of patients taking warfarin in primary care during the Covid-19 pandemic, with recommendations to help minimise attendances
• Switching from warfarin to DOACs

BP

• High-blood pressure medication during COVID

During infection: assess on case by case basis if hypotensive.

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine

• Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine are not licensed for use in COvid and are not recommended

Controlled Drugs

• Management of controlled drugs during coronavirus pandemic. CD National Newsletter

Dermatology

• NICE dermatology immunosuppressant advice

EPS

Roll out of Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) Phase 4

To help you prepare for winter, NHSE are accelerating deployment of EPS Phase 4 allowing patients without a nominated pharmacy to use EPS

Heart-Failure

• Heart failure management of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

Illicit drugs

The supply of illicit drugs into the UK has reduced significantly and will continue to reduce further. The result of this is that street prices of illicit drugs are rising, and their quality is diminishing. The illicit trade in prescription medication such as diazepam and pregabalin is increasing with reports that prices have already doubled.

To prevent the levels of theft that are likely to seriously affect operational effectiveness and the safety of all staff at this most critical time, organisations should urgently review their current security arrangements.

• TIAA security alert – illicit drugs

Inhalers

• Guide for alternative inhalers during stock shortages

Asthma patients should continue inhalers and medication as normal.

Multi Compartment Aids

• Lambeth – Multi Compart Compliance Aid, decision making tool

NSAIDS

• Insufficient evidence linking NSAIDs to contracting or worsening of Covid

Pharmacological management of Adult non-cancer chronic pain

• Helpful to support patients who may not be able to access their usual pain management services

Rheumatology

• Advice for Rheumatology patients on immunosuppressant medication
• Osteoporosis: Interim guidance has been developed to support prescribing and administration of the next dose of denosumab (Prolia™) in primary care during the pandemic and recovery phase. This is a temporary arrangement to support continuity of patient care during the pandemic/recovery phase for patients with osteoporosis currently receiving denosumab (Prolia™) from local secondary care services.

Shortages

• Shortages (medicines) – updated 9 October 2020