Skip to content

This Site is Intended for Healthcare Professionals Only

Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Pharmacies in England to complete next clinical audit with focus on valproate

Community pharmacies in England will have to go through a clinical audit focusing on valproate, following an agreement reached between the PSNC and NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I).

The audit, a part of NHS contractual requirements, aims to reduce the potential harm caused by taking valproate during pregnancy.


The 2021/22 audit will be based on the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) audit, allowing contractors to close the cycle by re-auditing their practice.

NHSE&I recently shared the results of the PQS 2019/20 valproate audit.

Around 5.6 per cent of the 12,068 girls or women of childbearing potential who participated in the audit said they were not advised in line with the MHRA Drug Safety Update 2018 relating to the potential impact on an unborn child.

Of the total, 10.6 per cent did not have a copy of the Patient Guide and 11.1 per cent did not have a copy of the Patient Alert Card.

PSNC said that the audit result shows, “there is still more work to be done to ensure women and girls receive the correct information about valproate and the risk of birth defects.”

PSNC director of NHS Services, Alastair Buxton, said: “Pharmacy teams have a vital role to play in ensuring valproate is prescribed and dispensed safely to women and girls.

“Many contractors have told us they want to see the results of previous audits shared and the audit cycle being completed; this audit will achieve that aim, building on the important work that pharmacy teams completed in the 2019/20 PQS and supporting further action to address this important patient safety issue.”

The negotiator will alert contractors once the paperwork for the audit is finalised.

More For You

NHS to invest millions to boost enhanced treatment for sickle cell patients

Approximately 17,000 people live in England with sickle cell disease

Pic credit: istock

NHS to invest millions to boost enhanced treatment for sickle cell patients

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that it will invest £9 million towards the treatment of sickle cell patients.

Approximately 17,000 people live in England with sickle cell disease. Nearly 250 new cases of this inherited blood disorder is reported annually.

Keep ReadingShow less
NHS leads the world with new ‘trojan horse’ therapy for blood cancer patients

An estimated 6,000 cases of multiple myeloma is diagnosed in the UK each year.

Pic credit: istock

NHS leads the world with new ‘trojan horse’ therapy for blood cancer patients


NHS England has become the first in the world to introduce a ‘trojan horse’ therapy for the victims of blood cancer with the ground-breaking treatment slowing down the illness three-times more than existing treatments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Call to improve inclusivity in clinical research

Ethnic minority adults continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials.

iStock

Call to improve inclusivity in clinical research

A NEW report has called for the participation of a wide range of diverse communities in clinical research to make sure that the medicines meet the needs of the UK's increasingly diverse population.

The report ‘Achieving inclusivity in clinical research’, prepared by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), highlights the long-standing challenges in ensuring diversity in clinical trials.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pharmacy students Learning Support Fund

Pharmacy students will be included in the Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses section of the NHS Learning Support Fund.

iStock

Pharmacy students to have access to Learning Support Fund

FOR the first time in England, pharmacy students will be eligible to reimburse travel and accommodation costs while attending placements.

The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that pharmacy students would finally be included in the Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) section of the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).

Keep ReadingShow less
NHS for robotic surgery

Patients undergoing robotic surgery are able to recover quicker and be discharged sooner.

Pic credit: iStock

NHS pushes for robotic surgery to reduce waiting time, improve outcomes

The NHS is planning to step up robotic surgery over the next decade to reduce waiting time, help in the speed of recovery of patients, and shorter hospital stay.

As per the NHS projections, the number is expected to zoom from 70,000 in 2023/24 to half a million by 2035.

Keep ReadingShow less