NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

5 May: Embedding medication safety, Benztropine, & Medication compliance aid stability tool guidance

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

5 May: Embedding medication safety, Benztropine, & Medication compliance aid stability tool guidance Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy procu...

28 April: biosimilars, managing pharmaceutical waste, & evaluating imported unlicensed drugs

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Hodgson, Medicines Advice pharmacist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 18th and 24th April. To easily fin...

21 April: Contraception resources, polypharmacy updates, and upcoming events

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

John Oliver, one of the quality assurance specialists at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 11th and 17th April. T...

14 April: Prescribing updates, advising on medicines during breastfeeding, & vaccines and PGDs

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Penny Daynes - associate regional pharmacy procurement specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 28th March an...

31 March: Parkinson’s and swallowing difficulties, antidepressants in epilepsy, & gowning

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Hodgson, Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 21st and 27th March. To easily find...

24 March: Dental controlled drugs, impact of sodium content in medicines, & upcoming events

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Hodgson, Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 14th and 20th March. To easily find...

17 March: Phenytoin monitoring, palliative care resources, & upcoming events

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Penny Daynes, associate regional pharmacy procurement specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 7th and 13th M...

10 March: Sustainability in aseptic services, new biosimilars and PSIRF

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Miller, Deputy Quality Assurance Pharmacist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 28th February and 6th March....

3 March: Advanced therapy medicinal products, medication safety, & updated travel health guidance

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Hodgson, Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 21st and 27th February. To easily f...

24 February: Procurement in Secondary Care, Spironolactone monitoring, & updated switching guidance

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dav Manku Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 14th and 20th Febr...

17 February: Assessing risks with injectable medicines, breastfeeding updates & upcoming events

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 7th and 13th F...

Effectively embedding medication safety into PSIRF: what to expect from this webinar

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Kirk and Anna Bischler talk about what you can expect from attending the upcoming webinar ‘Embedding medication safety in the Patient Safety In...

10 February: Polypharmacy resources, aflibercept biosimilars, & upcoming events

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

See Mun Wong, Digital and Quality Improvement Specialist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 31st January and 6th Feb...

3 Feb 2026: Clinical trials regulations, carbamazepine update, & toothpaste and fluoride toxicity

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Miller, Deputy Regional Quality Assurance Pharmacist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 24th and 30th January...

27 January: Aseptic Service landing page, Omalizumab biosimilar, & upcoming events

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

See Mun Wong, Digital & Quality Improvement Specialist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 17th and 23rd January.  ...

20 January: Medicines inventory, medication after bariatric surgery, & switching gabapentinoids

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Hodgson, Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 10th and 16th January.   To easi...

13 January: New medicines news, upcoming events & horizon scanning opportunity

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Penny Daynes, Associate regional pharmacy procurement specialist, at SPS presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 3rd and 9th Janu...

6 January: Managing pharmaceutical waste, December summaries & upcoming events

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Miller, Deputy Regional Quality Assurance Pharmacist, at SPS presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 20th December and 2nd...

23 December: Preventing errors on the medicine journey, liver podcasts & time critical medicines

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Miller, Deputy Regional Quality Assurance Pharmacist at SPS presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 13th and 19th December...

16 December: Problematic polypharmacy podcasts, Denosumab biosimilars & upcoming events

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist at SPS presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 6th and 12th Dece...

Liver Transplant

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Fatema Jessa about liver transplant. Discussion includes what liver transplant is, why it is performed, how patients are mana...

Alcohol related liver disease (ARLD)

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Leslie Wong, Advanced Clinical Pharmacist in Hepatology in the Eastern Liver Network and Communications Officer at the Britis...

Hepatitis C

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Helen Boothman, Lead Hepatology Pharmacist and past chair of the British Hepatology Pharmacy Group (BHPG) about hepatitis C. ...

Hepatitis B

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Helen Boothman, Lead Hepatology Pharmacist and past chair of the British Hepatology Pharmacy Group (BHPG) about hepatitis B. ...

Polypharmacy 5 moments: Frailty: when less is more

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our final episode, we explore frailty, a state of reduced resilience that makes people—particularly older adults—more vulnerable to adverse dru...

Polypharmacy 5 moments: Persistent non-adherence

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Here we focus on non-adherence, which often signals that medicines may no longer be appropriate, wanted, or manageable. The reasons are multifactorial...

Polypharmacy 5 moments: Repeat dispensing and supply

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode explores repeat dispensing and repeat supply as key moments to start meaningful conversations about medicines. When patients or carers or...

Polypharmacy 5 moments: Significant changes

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we focus on significant changes, especially after hospital discharge or when new, uncontrolled or worsening symptoms appear. For olde...

Polypharmacy 5 moments: Returned medicines

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we look at returned medicines as a key moment to spot potential overprescribing. When patients or carers bring back unwanted items, R...

9 December: Prescribing available epidural infusion bags, New medicines news, & Upcoming events

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

See Mun Wong, Digital and Quality Improvement Specialist, at SPS presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 29th November and 5th De...

2 December: Safe use of amphotericin B injection, PGD template updates, & New Product Evaluations

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dav Manku, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist, at SPS presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 22nd and 28th Novem...

25 November: Medicines governance opportunity, denosumab biosimilar, & upcoming events

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

See Mun Wong, Digital and Quality Improvement Specialist, at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 15th and 21st November....

18 November: Denosumab Biosimilar, PGD Templates & Upcoming Events

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nicola Wake, Associate Director, Medicines Use and Safety, at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 8th and 14th November....

11 November: Ophthalmology biosimilars, medicines governance opportunity, & New Medicines News

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy procurement specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 1st and 7th Nove...

04 November: Account check, SMR explainer videos & Gene therapy guidance

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

See Mun Wong, Digital and Quality Improvement Specialist, at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 25th and 31st October. ...

28 October: GLP-1 receptor agonists, New Product Evaluations, & PGD template updates

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dav Manku, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist, at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 18th and 24th Octo...

Primary care discussions: biosimilar insulin

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An ‘on the couch’ discussion on the practical implementation of biosimilar insulin in primary care, focusing on hints and tips to consider should ...

16 September: time critical use of rasburicase, biosimilars, & upcoming events

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Oliver, a quality assurance specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 6th and 12th September. To easily f...

Understanding safe use of medicines challenges in palliative and end of life care

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jo Clarke (Advanced Specialist Pharmacist - Palliative and End of Life Care, Medicines Use and Safety in SPS) explores some of the known issues which ...

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Yun Jung Kim, Senior Specialist Pharmacist in Hepatology about primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Discussion includes what PB...

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Sonal Patel, Lead Hepatology Pharmacist about autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Discussion includes what AIH is, prevalence, diagno...

Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Arron Jones, Lead Hepatology Pharmacist about metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Discussion in...

MSATS: People living with diabetes and what insulin safety means to them

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Kirk discusses with Claire Davies her experiences and learnings from speaking with people living with diabetes as part of the NHS SPS insulin saf...

Unlicensed medicines: good practice principles

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode John Oliver speaks to expert guests about evaluating the suitability of unlicensed medicines for the patient. We discuss practical con...

Primary care discussions: personalised evidence-based medicine to minimise polypharmacy

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Audio from our webinar held on the 4 March 2025 which featured a facilitated case-based discussion about the complexities of polypharmacy and deprescr...

MSATS: Insulin safety considerations in Health and Justice and secure settings

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Davies chats to Neera Shah about the challenges and considerations with insulin safety in health and justice and secure settings. Claire Dav...

MSATS: Voice of people living with diabetes - insulin safety and visual impairment

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Davies chats with Toby, a person living with diabetes, as to why it is essential that the voice of those with lived experience is heard and is ...

Unlicensed medicines: information, assurance, & diligence

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode John Oliver speaks to expert guests about the information and assurance needed to support the use of unlicensed medicines. We discuss ...

Unlicensed medicines: why we need them

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode John Oliver speaks to expert guests who define unlicensed medicines and explain why we need them. We discuss the shared responsibility...

Lipid management and newer therapies

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rakhi talks to Antonio about newer therapies for lipid management, incliseran and bemepdoic acid. They discuss their place in therapy and how they ma...

Swallowing difficulties (part one)

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Experienced Medicines Advice pharmacists, Karoline Brennan and Daniel Hill, talk you through how to manage patients who are unable to swallow medicine...

Swallowing difficulties (part two)

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Experienced Medicines Advice pharmacists, Karoline Brennan and Daniel Hill, talk you through how to manage patients who are unable to swallow medicine...

Pharmacy First: Infected Insect Bites

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Stephanie Gallard and Liz Kramer about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the infected insect bi...

Pharmacy First: Impetigo

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Stephanie Gallard and Liz Kramer about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the impetigo service u...

Pharmacy First: Shingles

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Stephanie Gallard and Liz Kramer about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the shingles service u...

Procurement: Navigating a potential supply issue

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Penny and Andy discuss new resources to support NHS procurement teams manage medicine shortages. They are joined by Sally and Andrew who talk about u...

Dosing of medicines in renal impairment

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two of our experienced Medicines Advice Pharmacists, John Minshull and Luke Elliott, talk about answering queries regarding the dosing of medication i...

Drugs in liver impairment

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Aimee Francisco about drugs in liver impairment. Discussion includes key issues to consider when prescribing in liver disease...

Cirrhosis

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Naz Kanani Alviri about liver cirrhosis. Discussion includes what cirrhosis is, and how it is diagnosed, the difference betwe...

Liver Disease

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Sital Shah in our introductory podcast about liver disease. Discussion includes the functions of the liver, difference betwee...

Lipid management and haemorrhagic stroke

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rakhi talks to Catherine and Kavan about optimising lipid management in patients who have had a haemorrhagic stroke. They discuss the importance of c...

Lipid management and ischaemic stroke

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rakhi talks to Catherine and Kavan about optimising lipid management in patients who have had an ischaemic stroke. They discuss the importance of con...

Introduction to answering questions about medicines

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two of our experienced Medicines Advice Pharmacists, John Minshull and Iram Husain, discuss how medicines advice pharmacists answer queries safely. ...

Pharmacy First: Children

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Alicia Demirjian and James Milner about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the new Pharmacy Firs...

Pharmacy First: Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Naomi Fleming and Reena Barai about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the uncomplicated urinary tr...

Pharmacy First: Otitis Media

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Professor Nick Francis and Rahul Sharda about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the otitis media s...

Pharmacy First: Sore Throat

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Professor Paul Little and Simran Sirpal about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the sore throat se...

Pharmacy First: Sinusitis

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Reynolds talks to Professor Alastair Hay and Simran Sirpal about some of the clinical issues surrounding the sinusitis service under Pharmacy F...

Celebrating Pharmacy Technician Day: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this extended podcast, Claire Dearden talks to Nicola Stockmann who is the President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK. To celebrate Ph...

Clinical Trials: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Lucy Featherstone who is an Oncology and Haematology Clinical Trials Pharmacy Technician. Lucy is responsible for managing, or...

Community Pharmacy: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Jon Ball who works as a community pharmacy technician managing a Boots Pharmacy at Bluewater. Jon’s role includes ensuring t...

Emergency Department Pilot: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Ben Smith and Michelle Brown. Ben and Michelle were redeployed to work in an Emergency Department as part of a project to impr...

Navigate difficult conversations with confidence

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this follow up to our webinar Naima & Nicola discuss deescalating conflict, and preparing for and having conversations when people may not hear wha...

Oncology: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Rebecca Toole (Becca) who is a Chemotherapy Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician working in an Oncology Day Unit. Alongsid...

Medicines Administration: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Sarah, a Specialised Pharmacy Technician who has a responsibility of overseeing the administration of medication to patients. ...

Pharmacy Integration & Workforce: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Claire Hand who is Pharmacy Integration and Workforce Lead. Claire's role involves supporting the Integrated care System (ICS)...

Hospital Pharmacy: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Lynsey, who is Dispensary Manager & Homecare Lead. Lynsey's role is to give operational oversight of the Pharmacy team within ...

Community pharmacy perspective on the complexities of medication use across care boundaries

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jose Moss, Vice Chair of the Community Pharmacy Safety Group and Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist, Boots UK Limited, and Martin Sadr-Kazemi, Medicatio...

Community services: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Susan and Sue who work for Luton Community Nursing Services. Their role is to ensure that medication is managed safely and eff...

Partnerships: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Aiste Guogyte who, at the time of recording, worked for Horsham Central Primary Care Network (PCN), which included four GP pra...

Controlled Drugs Stewardship: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Charlotte who works as Controlled Drugs and Policies Lead for Solent NHS Trust. Her role includes overseeing all aspects of co...

Primary Care Network: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Rose who works in a Primary Care Network, her role involves conducting various medication reviews in clinics such as post disc...

Social enterprise: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Katherine and Chloe who work at Turning Point, a social enterprise delivering health and social care services across substance...

Technical services: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Dearden talks to Kate, John and Kyle about Pharmacy Technicians working in Technicial Services. Kate is responsible for the development of the ...

Primary Care Discussions: Heart Failure

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rakhi Aggarwal hosted this webinar with Clare Thomson and Alison Warren on the 20 August discussing about identifying heart failure and optimising tre...

National Fellowship: a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nicola talks to Claire about becoming the first ever National Pharmacy Technician Fellow. Claire shares her Pharmacy Technician career journey and her...

Medicines in schools (part two): a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In part 2 of this double-bill, Nicola Wake chats to pharmacy technician Sue Goss about how her personal experience of learning disabilities has impact...

Medicines in schools (part one): a Pharmacy Technician Coffee Break Conversation

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In part 1 of this double-bill, Nicola Wake chats to Sarah Owen and Nirusha Govender about the role of a Pharmacy Technician working in schools and the...

Primary Care Discussions: Population Health In Practice

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rakhi Aggarwal hosted this webinar with Dr Duncan Jenkins and Sarah Baig on the 2 July 2024, discussing how to use population health tools and techniq...

Interface pharmacy teams supporting collaborative working between acute and primary care

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna talks to Deziah and Anisha, exploring the roles of an interface pharmacist and pharmacy technician and how these roles can promote collaborative ...

Developing communication and mutual understandings between care settings

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Henrietta Cresswell, Head of Pharmacy East Suffolk PCN, Benjamin Leung, Deputy Chief Pharmacist – West Suffolk Alliance Medicine Optimisation Team, ...

Empowering generalists and care-givers to ensure safer use of medicines in children across systems

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna Bischler speaks to Nanna Christiansen, Chief Childrens Pharmacist Evelina, Guys and St Thomas’s NHS trust, Chair NPPG and Nicola Husain, Educat...

System wide approach to develop resources supporting safe management of patients on complex medicine

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jo McMillan, Head of Medicines Optimisation, for North and Mid Hampshire within Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, is discussing how her ICB took a sys...

Primary Care Discussions: HRT Use In Clinical Practice

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This ‘on the couch’ webinar, the second in a series of two, addressed questions around the challenges faced by pharmacists with HRT decision makin...

MSATS Full pack dispensing of valproate

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Kirk chats with Siobhan Gee, Consultant Pharmacist and Deputy Director of Pharmacy at South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust about th...

MSATS: Learning and intellectual disabilities and valproate safety

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A discussion highlighting the importance of considering those with learning and intellectual disabilities when implementing changes in practice relate...

MSATS Safe use of valproate in acute district general hospitals

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Kirk chats with Kylie Williams, Highly Specialist pharmacist Medicines Safety at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Emm...

Primary Care Discussions: Progressing As A Pharmacy Professional

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A practical and interactive discussion between specialist and generalist pharmacy professionals about progressing your career in primary care. This is...

Primary Care Discussions: Lipid Management

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A practical and interactive discussion between specialist and generalist pharmacy professionals about managing lipid treatments in primary care. This ...

MSATS: Language barriers and medication safety inequalities

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna Bischler and Jay Patel discuss language barriers and the impact they have on medication safety inequalities. (19:21) Jay Patel: Regional Facilit...