Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Hot topics
DH consultation: Governance arrangements for controlled drugs
The Department of Health (DH) is consulting on proposed changes to the governance arrangements for controlled drugs in England and Scotland, including the role and functions of Controlled Drugs Accountable Officers (CDAOs). The significant structural changes introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 will have an impact on the overall governance of controlled drugs and the role and functions of primary care trust CDAOs. Consequently, the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006 require revision. The consultation and supporting documentation can be downloaded from here. The consultation ends on 15 November 2012.
BNFC now available as a free app
Health professionals can now access the British National Formulary for children (BNFC) from a smartphone or tablet via a new application (app) from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). This follows the recent launch of the BNF app. The apps require an NHS Athens username and password and can be run without an internet connection once they have been downloaded. For more information click here.
Latest additions
PCF updated monographs
The online Palliative Care Formulary (PCF) is being continually updated. The following monographs have been updated during September 2012 and supersede those in the publication of the 4th edition of the Palliative Care formulary (PCF4). They can be accessed from the formulary section of the website:
Chapter 1: Antacids
Chapter 1: Compound alginate products
Chapter 1: Simeticone
Chapter 1: Misoprostol
Chapter 5: Dextropropoxyphene
Chapter 6: Antibacterials in palliative care
Chapter 6: Urinary Tract Infections
Chapter 28: Oral nutritional supplements
Appendix 1: Obtaining unauthorized (unlicensed) products
Coming soon! PDF version of PCF4+
An e-book PDF version containing the latest content of the on-line Palliative Care Formulary as of September 2012 (designated PCF4+) will shortly be available to purchase and download from the website. PCF4+ contains 17 updated monographs and 1 appendix, which supersede the printed PCF4 version. We anticipate publishing a PDF version annually, with the fifth edition of the book (PCF5) in 2014. Special launch price, until end of 2012, only £24.99 (usual price £29.99). For more details click here.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock