Pharmacists called on to tackle oral methotrexate safety issues
Input from pharmacists is key to implementing the latest patient safety alert — on the risks
associated with use of oral methotrexate — issued by the National Patient Safety Agency.
The alert sets out action points to combat risks associated with the
drug. NHS trusts and primary care organisations in England and Wales
are expected to implement the recommendations by March 2005.
Local drug and therapeutics committees are asked by the NPSA to review
shared care arrangements for prescribing and monitoring oral methotrexate.
Having done this, they should then ensure that patient information (supplied
in template form by the NPSA as part of the alert) is issued to all patients
before and during treatment. Patient-held monitoring and dosage records
should also be provided to all patients taking methotrexate.
Pharmacists are requested to assess patients’ needs in terms of
packaging, labelling and patient information.
Additional action required includes upgrades to prescribing and pharmacy
dispensing IT systems and a review of purchasing procedures for methotrexate.
Wendy Harris, senior pharmacist at the NPSA, said: “We’ve
had to tackle this complex problem at a number of levels, and have combined
forces with industry, and involved patients, clinicians and pharmacists.”
The alert and supporting resource material can be downloaded from the
NPSA website.
Hard copies are available from the Department of Health order line (tel
08701 555455, quoting reference
number PSA03).
News feature, p144 |
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