News and updates from palliativedrugs.com
- 1Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- 2palliativedrugs.com, Hayward House Study Centre, Nottingham, UK
- Correspondence to Andrew Wilcock, Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Nottingham, Hayward House, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK; andrew.wilcock{at}nottingham.ac.uk
www.palliativedrugs.com has provided essential independent information about drugs used in palliative and hospice care for over a decade. It contains the on-line Palliative Care Formulary, and provides free access to a Bulletin Board to stimulate questions and share experiences, a Document Library containing 450 items of useful information, and a Syringe Driver Survey Database containing details of over 2350 different drug combinations. Territory-specific book versions (the UK Palliative Care Formulary 4th edition, Hospice and Palliative Care Formulary USA 2nd edition, and Palliative Care Formulary Canadian edition), can also be purchased via the website. A PDF version of the latest content (PCF4+), suitable for viewing on mobile devices is also available. This feature provides a selection of items which have featured in the News and Latest Additions sections in recent months; for additional information please register for free on the website.
Safety updates
NPSA insulin passport deadline
NHS organisations should have implemented the following actions outlined in the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) alert ‘The adult patient's passport for safer use of insulin’ (NPSA/2011/PSA003), which had a deadline of 31 August 2012:
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Adult patients on insulin therapy receive a patient information booklet and an insulin passport to help provide accurate identification of their current insulin products, and provide essential information across health sectors.
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Health professionals and patients are informed how the insulin passport and associated patient information can be used to improve safety.
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When prescriptions of insulin are prescribed, dispensed or administered, health professionals cross-reference available information …
