Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

Medicines Update

For all healthcare professionals across NHSGGC both in primary care and the acute sector.

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  medicines.update@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

Click here for a promotional poster on Medicines Update and here for an animation on the Communications subcommittee of ADTC resposnsible for the development of Medicines Update.

If you would like to contribute to Medicines Update, click here for a guide to blog writing and the checklist to complete prior to submitting a blog to the Communications Subcommittee of ADTC.

06/09/2023 announcement

Accessing GGC Clinical Guidelines via Medicines Update blogs and the Adult Therapeutics Handbook 

GGC Clinical Guidelines have migrated to the Right Decisions for Health and Care platform. As a result of the migration, direct links to GGC guidelines within Medicines Update blogs (and the Adult Therapeutics Handbook, GGC Medicines App) currently go to the homepage and not individual guidelines. This change was out with our control. 
Please note, there is a message on the homepage highlighting intermittent issues with the search function, therefore, if you cannot find a guideline via the search box, select the relevant category from the homepage or if the guideline still can't be found, contact clinical.guidelines@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
An update will be provided in due course.

Vitamin D/Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements: A Seasonal Reminder

Posted: Friday, February 10, 2023

Category - Medicines Update

Key Messages

  • Scottish Government guidance suggests that people of all age groups should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms (400 International Units (IU)) daily particularly during the winter months (October to March)
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 3 (receiving less than 500ml of infant formula daily) can obtain free supplies of vitamin D via their community pharmacy as detailed HERE
  • Those who are not eligible for free supplies of vitamin D can purchase a vitamin D supplement at pharmacies, supermarkets and online
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Safe Use of Insulin for Adults Admitted to Hospital – Summary of Blog Series

Posted: Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Category - Medicines Update

Safe Use of Insulin for Adults Admitted to Hospital – Summary of Blog Series

Errors involving insulin can cause serious harm to patients. A series of blogs have been published to help explain the key principles of safe insulin prescribing and administration during inpatient admission and at discharge.
The blogs cover medicines reconciliation, prescribing, administration and discharge.

Read More...