Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Hot topics
Electronic prescribing for controlled drugs – DH consultation
The UK Department of Health (DH) has published a consultation document on proposals for electronically prescribing Schedules 2 and 3 CDs in both the NHS and privately. The consultation closes on 9 October 2014; responses can be made on-line or via a response form, both available on the DH website. The consultation document can be downloaded here.
Liverpool Care pathway replaced by five Priorities for Care
The Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People (LACDP) has published a new approach to caring for people in the last few days and hours of life. This approach, based on five new priorities for care, is outlined in the new document ‘One Chance to Get it Right’ and follows the recommendation made by the independent Neuberger review of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) that the LCP be phased out by 14 July 2014.
The Five new Priorities for Care are:
- The possibility that a person may die within the coming days and hours is recognised and communicated clearly, decisions about care revised regularly.
- Sensitive communication takes place between staff and the person who is dying and those important to them.
- The dying person, and those identified as important to them, are involved in decisions about treatment and care.
- The people important to the dying person are listened to and their needs are respected.
- Care is tailored to the individual and delivered with compassion, with an individual care plan in place.
The full document can be downloaded from the Department of Health website, here. Full details are available on the LACDP section of NHS England website, here.
Supplementary information on wholesale dealer and controlled drugs licences in England 19th September 2014
The Department of Health has provided supplementary information summarising the circumstances in which it is necessary for pharmacies supplying controlled drugs to hold a wholesale dealer’s authorisation for human use (WDA(H)) and controlled drugs licence, following changes to the Medicines Act in August 2012.
Drug updates
Domperidone restricted to a POM
As of the 4 September 2014, domperidone is available only as a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) in the UK. All unexpired stock of products previously designated as Pharmacy medicines (P) have been recalled by the MHRA. This follows the Europe-wide review of the safety and efficacy of domperidone (see our news item 30th April 2014) which has resulted in the conclusion by the UK Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) that products containing domperidone no longer meet the requirements for supply with legal status ‘P’. For more information, click here.
Demeclocycline 150mg capsules supply issue
There is a manufacturing and supply issue with demeclocycline 150mg capsules in the UK, which is not expected to be resolved until June 2015. We understand that an unauthorized 150mg tablet can be imported from USA. The tablets are available as 100 tablet packs but are significantly more expensive and there is a lead time between ordering and supply.
Latest additions
PCF5 print version and epdf coming soon!
It is anticipated that the 5th edition of the Palliative Care Formulary (PCF5) will be available in print, as an epdf and on-line from the end of October. Since the publication of PCF4 in 2011, every drug monograph has been reviewed and updated. Two new chapters cover variability in response to drugs (replaces chapter on Cytochrome P450) and the drug treatment of pruritus. Several sets of drug monographs have been streamlined into single generic monographs, notably Bisphosphonates, Cannabinoids, Haemostatics, Low Molecular Weight Heparins, Opioid antagonists and Psychostimulants.
Although written primarily with cancer patients in mind, PCF5 contains specific material relating to several other life-limiting diseases e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, renal failure, and Parkinson’s disease. PCF also includes a number of Quick Prescribing Guides and Quick Clinical Guides.
The on-line PCF will continue to be regularly updated and will thus provide access to the most up to date PCF content.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock