Kieran Reynolds talks to Arron Jones, Lead Hepatology Pharmacist about metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Discussion includes what MASLD/MASH stands for, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment; including advice to give to patients accessing GLP-1 RAs online, and emerging therapies.

Arron Jones - Lead Hepatology Pharmacist, Bart’s Health Trust

Kieran Reynolds - Advanced Specialist Pharmacist (Medicines Governance), SPS

Useful links:

The British Liver Trust’s information on MASLD, NAFLD and fatty liver disease

https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/liver-conditions/masld-nafld-and-fatty-liver-disease/

The NHS Eatwell Guide

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/

The South Asian Eatwell Guide

https://mynutriweb.com/the-south-asian-eatwell-guide/

SPS article on using statins in liver impairment

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-statins-in-liver-impairment/

The General Pharmaceutical Council’s FAQs on weight loss medications (including a guide for patients on how to keep safe when getting medicines or treatment online: scroll to bottom of page to access)

https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/patients-and-public/standards-you-can-expect-using-pharmacy-services/weight-loss-medications-faq

Sheetal Ladva, Senior Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 21st and 27th June. To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.   

Quick links to highlighted resources:     

Safe handling of monoclonal antibodies

Considerations for occupational safety when preparing monoclonal antibodies (mAb)

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/safe-handling-of-monoclonal-antibodies/

Tranexamic acid injection for treatment of severe haemorrhage

SPS PGD template for administering tranexamic acid injection for treatment of severe haemorrhage by registered Paramedics and Nurses

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/tranexamic-acid-injection-for-treatment-of-severe-haemorrhage/

June edition of Spotlight

A digest of NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service support for professionals working in all areas of the healthcare system for June 2025

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/spotlight-june-2025/

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences     

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/       

Podcast description:   

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

24th June: Intrathecal administration, fidaxomicin & vancomycin, & job opportunities at SPS

Sheetal Ladva, Senior Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 14th and 20th June.

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.     

Quick links to highlighted resources:     

Job vacancy 

SPS Medicines Advice Pharmacist 

https://careers.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/#!/job/v7226351  

Understanding risks with intrathecal administration

The intrathecal route is a high-risk route of administration. Incorrect administration of medicines unsafe for this route can result in patient death.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/understanding-risks-with-intrathecal-administration/

Choosing between fidaxomicin options

Organisations should choose suitable fidaxomicin formulary options and mitigate risks. Several factors affect decision making.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/choosing-between-fidaxomicin-options/

Choosing between vancomycin options

Organisations should choose suitable formulary options for oral vancomycin and mitigate risks. Several factors affect decision making.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/choosing-between-oral-vancomycin-options/

Time Critical Medicines Quality Improvement Collaborative 

We invite NHS Trusts to express an interest in joining this quality improvement collaborative 

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/time-critical-medicines-quality-improvement-collaborative/ 

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences     

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/    

 Podcast description:   

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

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

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.   

Quick links to highlighted resources:    

Job vacancy

SPS Medicines Advice Pharmacist

https://careers.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/#!/job/v7226351

People living with diabetes and what insulin safety means to them podcast

We share conversations with people living with diabetes, the impact of their diabetes diagnosis, diabetes devices, their faith, and also shared experiences of the effects of hypoglycaemia and admissions to hospital on their diabetes journey.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/developing-insulin-safety-across-a-system/

Implementing pharmacogenomic testing for aminoglycosides

Patients with mitochondrial variants have an increased risk of deafness with amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin and tobramycin. Guidance on testing is provided.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/implementing-pharmacogenomic-testing-for-aminoglycosides/

Doxycycline PGD template

National PGD templates are developed with experts for clinical specialties. They reduce duplication and variation, and improve consistency of care.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/guidance/patient-group-directions-and-legal-mechanisms/national-pgd-templates/

Time Critical Medicines Quality Improvement Collaborative

We invite NHS Trusts to express an interest in joining this quality improvement collaborative

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/time-critical-medicines-quality-improvement-collaborative/

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences    

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/   

Podcast description:  

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

Emma Kirk discusses with Claire Davies her experiences and learnings from speaking with people living with diabetes as part of the NHS SPS insulin safety project. In this podcast Claire shares conversations with Abdul, Sarah, Charlie and Toby including the impact of their diabetes diagnosis, diabetes devices, faith, hypoglycaemia and admissions to hospital on their diabetes journey. (48m 41s)

This podcast is part of the Medication Safety Across The System (MSATS) series, aimed at healthcare professionals working in any sector with a role or passion for medication safety and/or involved in medicines use.

John Oliver, a quality assurance specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 2nd and 6th June.

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.   

Quick links to highlighted resources:    

Job vacancy

SPS Medicines Advice Pharmacist

https://careers.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/#!/job/v7226351

Prescribing available medicines to treat ADHD

The availability of medicines used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) varies currently. Supply content is maintained regularly by DHSC.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/prescribing-available-medicines-to-treat-adhd/

Time Critical Medicines Quality Improvement Collaborative

We invite NHS Trusts to express an interest in joining this quality improvement collaborative

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/time-critical-medicines-quality-improvement-collaborative/

SPS PGD template user survey

We are seeking feedback from users of the SPS PGD templates, and those who have chosen not to use them.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=VpftQ_9Bv0yVm0BqQIO3iy69MtABWsFCjFDc3yJffiRUQlJMUDVKRUtNWklVTUQyMTJYT1FEQTlVOC4u&route=shorturl

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences    

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/   

Podcast description:  

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

John Oliver, a quality assurance specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 23rd May and 1st June.

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.   

Quick links to highlighted resources:    

Spotlight, May 2025

A digest of NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service support for professionals working in all areas of the healthcare system for May 2025.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/spotlight-may-2025/

Considerations for using medicines following bariatric surgery

Guidance on the physiological changes after bariatric surgery that can affect the pharmacokinetics of medicines and supplements.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/considerations-for-using-medicines-following-bariatric-surgery/

Safer Use of Time Critical Medicines Quality Improvement Collaborative

We invite NHS Trusts to express an interest in joining this quality improvement collaborative

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/time-critical-medicines-quality-improvement-collaborative/

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences    

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/   

Podcast description:  

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

27 May:  Golimumab biosimilar, prokinetic medicines, developing insulin safety & events

Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist North East and Yorkshire, presents presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 17th and 23rd May.

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.   

Quick links to highlighted resources:  

Preparing to use golimumab biosimilar

Golimumab biosimilars are expected soon. We offer general information and implementation advice.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/preparing-to-use-golimumab-biosimilar/

Choosing a prokinetic medicine for impaired gastrointestinal motility

Prokinetics improve gastrointestinal motility. We advise on suitable prokinetic options, including dose and safety considerations.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/choosing-a-prokinetic-medicine-for-impaired-gastrointestinal-motility/

Developing insulin safety across a system

Strategies, signposting and initiatives to support safer use of insulin.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/developing-insulin-safety-across-a-system/

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) IM injection for contraception

SPS PGD template for the supply and/or administration of subcutaneous medroxyprogesterone acetate (SC-DMPA) injection for contraception

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medroxyprogesterone-acetate-sc-dmpa-injection-for-contraception/

PGD programme board – expressions of interest welcomed 

If you are interested in applying for this post please email Jo Jenkins directly via [email protected] for more details and an application form. Closing date for applications is the 31st May. 

 

PGD template user survey 

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=VpftQ_9Bv0yVm0BqQIO3iy69MtABWsFCjFDc3yJffiRUQlJMUDVKRUtNWklVTUQyMTJYT1FEQTlVOC4u&route=shorturl  

 

SPS job vacancy 

https://careers.uhliverpool.nhs.uk/current-vacancies#!/job/v7192316  

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences     

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/    

 

Podcast description:   

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

Madeleine Foster, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellow at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 10th and 16th May.

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.   

Quick links to highlighted resources:    

Unlicensed medicines podcast series

A series of podcasts about unlicensed medicines.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/unlicensed-medicines-podcast-series/

New product evaluations – log in required to access

A list of new product evaluations that are freely available to NHS staff.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/new-product-evaluations/

PGD programme board – expressions of interest welcomed

If you are interested in applying for this post please email Jo Jenkins directly via [email protected] for more details and an application form. Closing date for applications is the 31st May.

PGD template user survey

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=VpftQ_9Bv0yVm0BqQIO3iy69MtABWsFCjFDc3yJffiRUQlJMUDVKRUtNWklVTUQyMTJYT1FEQTlVOC4u&route=shorturl

SPS job vacancy

https://careers.uhliverpool.nhs.uk/current-vacancies#!/job/v7192316

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences    

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/   

Podcast description:  

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

In this episode John Oliver speaks to expert guests about evaluating the suitability of unlicensed medicines for the patient. We discuss practical considerations for managing them in dispensaries, performing a quality assessment and good governance frameworks. (29m:55s)

Speakers:

John Oliver, Quality Assurance Specialist; NHS SPS

Dr. Andrew Lowey, Lead Clinician, Pharmacy Preparative Services Leeds Teaching Hospitals, and chair of the NHS Pharmacy Production Committee

Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist; NHS SPS, North East and Yorkshire

Katherine Cullen, Divisional Director Clinical Support Services, Chief Pharmacist; Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Lynn Morrison, Regional Quality Assurance Specialist; NHS Scotland

Amanda Cooper, Assistant Head of NHS SPS

Useful links:

MHRA guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supply-unlicensed-medicinal-products-specials (MHRA guidance on unlicensed medicinal products – specials, including Guidance Note 14)

SPS guidance

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/guidance/unlicensed-medicines/

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/understanding-excipients-in-medicines/

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/searching-for-presence-or-absence-of-an-excipient-in-medicines/

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/navigating-a-potential-supply-issue/ (SPS log-in required)

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-complexities-of-medication-use-across-care-boundaries/ (Medication Safety across the System providing resources that include valuable real-world examples of safely managing unlicensed liquid medicines)