Hospital Pharmacist
Vol 10 No 5 p190
May 2003

News summary

Related websites
National Patient Safety Agency (www.npsa.nhs.uk)

Oral methotrexate

Guidance on the dispensing and administration of oral methotrexate is next on the medicines agenda of the National Patient Safety Agency, according to Professor David Cousins Head of Safe Medication Practice at the NPSA.

Speaking at the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Annual Meeting in Bristol on 5 April, Professor Cousins also said that the administration of anticoagulants was being considered.

Although the methotrexate initiative is unlikely to have the same status as the alert issued for the safe storage of potassium chloride, the NPSA are taking the dangers extremely seriously.

According to Wendy Harris, Senior Pharmacist, NPSA: "We have consulted extremely broadly with experts, professionals and patients to understand the problems associated with oral methotrexate and resulting from these discussions a number of potential solutions are now being developed and evaluated."