Click here to access the full blog
Guideline News October 2025
Posted: Monday, November 10, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Medicines Update
GGC Medicines Update is a series of blogs with important medicines related messages relevant to all healthcare professionals across GGC.
- Subscribe to our blog via email: ggc.medicines.update@nhs.scot
- Follow us on Twitter
Please note, Medicines Update blogs are correct at the time of publication.
Medicines Update blogs remain on the website for 4 years. If you would like a copy of a blog published more than 4 years ago, please contact ggc.medicines.update@nhs.scot.
Click here for a promotional poster on Medicines Update and here for an animation on the Communications subcommittee of ADTC responsible for the development of Medicines Update.
If you would like to contribute to Medicines Update, click here for further information and here for a guide to blog writing. When you email the committee to discuss writing a blog, you will be sent a checklist to complete prior to submitting the blog for review.
Appropriate and Safe Conversion from Warfarin to a DOAC
Posted: Monday, November 3, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
- Patients admitted to hospital who take warfarin (or any other coumarin anticoagulant), should be considered for a switch to a suitable direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). This recommendation is based on the reduced bleeding risk with DOACs when compared with warfarin and improved patient acceptability given the lack of need for ongoing monitoring in hospital and community-based clinics.
- The Appropriate and Safe Conversion from Warfarin to a DOAC guideline available in the GGC Adult Therapeutics Handbook includes full detail, such as situations when patients should not be switched, recommended choice of DOAC and how to switch patients.
MHRA Safety Roundup October 2025
Posted: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
West of Scotland Regional Formulary - Progress Update October 2025
Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
- A new regional West of Scotland formulary is being developed, which will replace the NHSGGC formulary over time.
- The latest edition of the regular Formulary Focus newsletter has been issued to help keep staff in participating Health Boards up-to-date with project progress.
- Excellent progress has been made so far, with the review of four chapters currently underway (Cardiovascular, Gastro-Intestinal, Respiratory and Skin).
- Nominations are being sought from NHSGGC staff who are interested in membership of the new West of Scotland Formulary Committee.
MHRA Safety Roundup September 2025
Posted: Friday, October 3, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
Guideline News September 2025
Posted: Friday, October 3, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
Patient views and experience of deprescribing medicines – Implications for practitioners
Posted: Thursday, October 2, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
In May this year, NHSGGC undertook a comprehensive public survey to understand how people feel about their medicines and about deprescribing. Over 1000 responses were received, giving invaluable insights into how patients feel about their currently prescribed medicines and their willingness to consider reducing or stopping them.
Guideline News August 2025
Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
GGC Guideline Update: Management plan for patients on oral anticoagulants in the peri-operative period
Posted: Friday, September 5, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
- A new NHSGGC guideline has been published on the Right Decision Platform: Management plan for patients on warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in the peri-operative period.
- The new NHSGGC guideline includes:
- Updated recommendations on thrombosis risk categories for elective procedures.
- A clear presentation of different DOACs and the time frame between the last dose and high bleeding risk procedures.
- Updated recommendations on low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) dose in the peri-operative period.
- Updated CHADS-VA score in line with new recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology.
NHSGGC representatives start shaping new West Of Scotland Formulary content
Posted: Thursday, September 4, 2025
Category - Medicines Update
Click here to access the full blog
- Over the next 18 months, a new Regional West of Scotland Formulary is being created which will replace the NHSGGC formulary over time
- A regular newsletter will be issued to keep staff in participating health boards up-to-date with project progress
- Nominations are being sought from health care professionals who consider themselves to be experts in particular therapeutic areas to be part of each chapter expert working group for both the paediatric and adult formularies, please complete this form to nominate yourself.