HELPLINE BLOG

We have found a potential Clinical safety issue with Methotrexate which will affect ALL sites.

We know there are some drugs for which it will be necessary to limit the choice of dosage to a pre-defined set. One of these drugs is Methotrexate. If such a drug is selected (regardless of the preparation), then the dosage control will be replaced by a drop-down list of possible dosages, thereby  limiting the users choice.

The problem arises when dosages are manually changed via the keyboard rather than using the drop-down boxes.

Please download and read the explanation guide to ensure you are fully aware of the situation.

http://www.helpline.inps.co.uk/uploads/jul10/INPS_V3_Methotrexate_Clinical_Safety_Risk_v001.pdf

Read More - 14/07/2010 | Comments Filed under: Helpline Blog

http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/gpsupport/qmas

The NHS Information Centre (IC) has updated the QOF business rules following the April 2010 code release.

NHS CFH is issuing the business rules for information only. This is to allow GPSoC Suppliers/ 3rd party software to update any local searches or templates.

QMAS will continue to only accept business rules version 16.0 until after the October 2010 read code release.
It is anticipated that QMAS will be updated following the October 2010 code release. This will result in one of the following scenarios:

a) NHS IC updates the business rules to version 18.0 and QMAS is updated to accept business rules version 18.0 messages for 2009/10. No messages will be accepted for business rules version 17.0.

b) NHS IC recognise no code cluster changes to the business rules are necessary and QMAS is updated to accept business rules version 17.0 messages for 2009/10.

Please note that if business rules versions 18.0 are issued following the October 2010 code release, suppliers will be issued business rules with a full history of track changes from version 16.0 to 18.0. They will also receive a full change log detailing all changes from version 16.0 to version 18.0.

Read More - 26/07/2010 | Comments Filed under: Helpline Blog

Maintenance has now been completed.

BT are carrying out maintenance on the system which controls the Helpline telephone messages. You may hear silence when in the Helpline queues, but please continue to hold and your call will be answered. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Read More - 22/07/2010 | Comments Filed under: Helpline Blog

The Multilex Bulletin is a list of changes made to the Multilex Drug Data File over the month. It provides a quick reference to developments, including Manufacturers’ name changes, formulations added and discontinued as well as helpful advanced warnings of impending changes.

 

Download the July 2010 edition of the bulletin here.

Read More - 21/07/2010 | Comments Filed under: Helpline Blog

Further to the blog entry of 09/06/2010 about Penicillin V, we have been asked if any other drugs were affected by this change, investigation shows that the drug changes that were introduced in the April dictionary which included the removal of the synonym for Penicillin V were described in the bulletin issued by FirstDataBank Europe.

Further to the advance notice provided in November 2009, some synonyms have been removed from Multilex DDF and the previous synonym record suppressed. These ‘suppressed’ products will remain available to support patient medical records and provide ongoing clinical decision support. The products that have been discontinued are listed below.
Oily cream
Lanolin ointment
Glycerin and ichthammol solution
Epsom salts crystals
Aluminium hydroxide with magnesium trisilicate tablets
Sodium bicarbonate, tartaric acid, citric acid, sodium benzoate effervescent tablets
Penicillin v elixir 125mg/5ml
Penicillin v elixir 250mg/5ml
Penicillin v sugar free oral solution 125mg/5ml
Penicillin v sugar free oral solution 250mg/5ml
Penicillin v tablets 250mg
Sodium acid phosphate enema long tube
Sodium acid phosphate enema standard tube
Liquid paraffin with wool fat and yellow soft paraffin eye ointment 10
Sodium phosphate with sodium acid phosphate sugar free solution (10.8g + 24.4g)/45ml
Normal saline eye drops
Normal saline sterile solution 0.9%
Gees linctus
Glycerin thymol compound liquid
Thiamine compound strong tablets
Thiamine compound tablets
White embrocation
Zinc and castor oil cream

The text files created after each drug dictionary install do give information about added and removed drugs, Action Groups, and Short names but unfortunately this does not include synonyms which are rarely changed.
INPS  will ensure, in the future, that the Multilex bulletin is made available on the Helpline blog for each dictionary install as it sometimes contains additional information.
Our apologies for the inconvenience caused by the lack of information about this change.

Read More - 13/07/2010 | Comments Filed under: Helpline Blog