Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Update on supply of Epipens

Since the new Dorset CCG website has gone live, we are aware that some hyperlinks on the formulary are not behaving as expected. If you come across a broken hyperlink, please use the feedback tab on this website to let us know. We will then contact you with the information you require and fix the hyperlink. 

May 2018 MHRA Alert: Affected test strips, manufactured by Roche Diabetes Care, may give increased strip error messages prior to dosing with blood and in some cases may give false high or low readings, which may be hard to detect.  Affected lots include:

ACCU-CHEK AVIVA STRIPS (50s)

• 497392 

• 497391 

• 496915 

• 496809 

• 496802 

• 496807 

 
ACCU-CHEK AVIVA STRIPS (10s)

• 497344 

• 497392 
 
ACCU-CHEK PERFORMA STRIPS (10s)

• 476597 

• 476646 
 
Accu-Chek Performa Nano mmol Kit. [Please note that the FSN only applies to the pack of Performa 10 test strips contained within the kit]
 
• 10153116 

• 10153114

• 10153115

• 10153112 

• 10153111

April 2018- Based on the latest information GPs can now order Hepatitis B vaccines. Please see the letter regarding the planned phase return of stock and the latest PHE Guidance for more information. Practices should be aware that Hepatitis B, for travel, is not remunerated by the NHS as part of additional services - please see our policy for overseas travel advice for more detail.

Medicines Safety Update: New measures to avoid valproate exposure in pregnancy

Valproate for epilepsy, bipolar or migraine must not be used in any woman or girl able to have children unless the conditions of a new pregnancy prevention programme are met. The programme is designed to ensure that patients are made fully aware of the risks and the need to avoid becoming pregnant. Elements of the programme include:

• an assessment of each patient's potential for becoming pregnant,
• pregnancy tests before starting and during treatment as needed,
• counselling about the risks of valproate treatment and the need for effective contraception throughout treatment,
• a review of ongoing treatment by a specialist at least annually,
• introduction of a new risk acknowledgement form that patients and prescribers will go through at each such annual review to confirm that appropriate advice has been given and understood.

NEW: Temporary safety measures have been introduced for Esmya following reports of serious liver injury in women using the medicine for uterine fibroids. The following actions are required:

• Do not initiate new treatment courses of Esmya, including in women who have completed one or more treatment courses previously
• Perform liver function tests at least once a month in all women currently taking Esmya.
• Check transaminase levels immediately in current or recent users of Esmya who present with signs or symptoms suggestive of liver injury (such as nausea, vomiting, malaise, right hypochondrial pain, anorexia, asthenia, jaundice).

To view the full CAS Alert click here.