Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

Following a review by the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) back in 2018, the probiotic food supplements VSL#3® and Vivomixx® were removed from Part XV of the Drug Tariff in England. The Committee concluded that the evidence did not sufficiently demonstrate that the products are clinically effective.

The NHSGGC Delirium Diagnosis, Risk Reduction and Management in Acute Services guideline recommends undertaking a medication review. This blog provides advice on how to undertake a medication review using the TIME structure.

Clinical Governance Related Publications Update for January 2022

Key Medicine Shortages for February 2022

Prior to discharge, a prescriber must refer all patients on, or to be commenced on warfarin (or acenocoumarol) to the Glasgow and Clyde Anticoagulation Service (GCAS).  This should be regardless of whether: 

• Their anticoagulation is considered stable or not
• They had an appointment arranged prior to admission

MHRA Drug Safety Update for January 2022

• Seal-Tight ™ wound care protectors are included in the NHSGGC Wound formulary for use on chronic lower limb wounds
• They are not to be prescribed for patients who can remove compression hosiery or wound dressings and reapply independently after bathing or patients with fracture casts.

Adding “outside” medicines (those prescribed and supplied outside the practice) to patient prescriptions will result in:

• Safer prescribing: prescription record is complete allowing GP practice clinical decision support to flag drug interactions
• Increased patient safety: these medicines appear in the Emergency Care Summary (ECS)
• Improved medicines reconciliation: due to more complete record of prescribing in ECS