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  • Letters and urgent communications 2024

    Date published: 4 January 2024

    Last updated: 23 December 2024

    Advice from the Chief Medical Officer to HSC professionals for 2024

    Documents

    • HSS(MD) 01/2024 - National Patient Safety Alert – Shortage Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists (Update) Adobe PDF (190 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 02/2024 - Seasonal Influenza Vaccination offer to all 50-64 year olds and all Health and Social Care Workers Adobe PDF (127 KB)
    • HSS (MD) 03/2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Update – Valproate (Belvo, Convulex, Depakote, Dyzantil, Epilim, Epilim Chrono or Chronosphere, Episenta, Epival, and Syonell Adobe PDF (204 KB)
    • HSS (MD) 04/2024 - Fluoroquinolone antibiotics and Omega-3-acid ethyl ester medicines Adobe PDF (176 KB)
    • HSS (MD) 05/2024 - Measles, Mumps and Rubella catch-up campaign February to March 2024 Adobe PDF (188 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 06 2024 - Valporate - Important new regulatory measure for oversight of prescribing to new patients and existing female patients Adobe PDF (371 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 07 2024 - MHRA Drug safety update – codeine linctus (codeine oral solutions) reclassification to prescription-only medicine Adobe PDF (198 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 08 2024 - MHRA Drug safety update – Pseudoephedrine very rare risk of Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) Adobe PDF (171 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 09 2024 - National Patient Safety Alert – Shortage of Salbutamol 2.5MG 2.5ML AND 5MG 2.5ML Nebuliser Liquid Unit Dose Vials Adobe PDF (173 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 10 2024 - Update to covid-19 testing guidance HSS(MD) circulars withdrawn Adobe PDF (126 KB)
    • HSS (MD) 11 2024 - Covid-19 2024 Spring Booster Programme Adobe PDF (229 KB)
    • HSS (MD) 12 2024 Covid-19 Treatments Updated Nice Guidance TA878 (Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir sotrovimab and tocilizumab for treating COVID-19) Adobe PDF (145 KB)
    • HSS(MD)13/2024 - National Patient Safety Alert – Shortage of Erelzi (Etanercept) 50MG Solution for Injection in Pre-Filled Pen Adobe PDF (178 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 14 2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Update - Finasteride and Montelukast Adobe PDF (213 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 15/2024 - National Patient Safety Alert - Shortage of Orencia Clickject 125mg 1ml solution for injection pre-filled pens Adobe PDF (173 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 16/2024 - Hepatitis C Testing Guidance Adobe PDF (176 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 17/2024 - 23-24 Influenza season Adobe PDF (239 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 18/2024 - Shortage of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy Adobe PDF (265 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 19 2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Update – Topical steroids - introduction of new labelling and a reminder of the possibility of severe side effects, including Topical Steroid Withdrawal Reactions Adobe PDF (212 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 20/2024 - New Restrictions on use of Puberty Suppressing Hormones (Puberty Blockers) in Great Britain – Information for Prescribers and Pharmacists/Dispensing Doctors Adobe PDF (226 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 21/2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Update – Topiramate (Topamax) Introduction of new safety measures, including a Pregnancy Prevention Programme Adobe PDF (260 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 22/2024 - Medicine Supply Notification - Pabrinex® (Vitamins B and C) Intravenous and Intramuscular high potency solution for injection ampules Adobe PDF (161 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 23/2024 - Completion of universal statutory cremation forms Adobe PDF (223 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 24/2024 (Addendum) - Introduction of Universal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination Programme for Older Adults and During Pregnancy for Infant Protection Adobe PDF (277 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 25/2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Update Epimax Ointment and Epimax Paraffin-Free Ointment Adobe PDF (162 KB)
    • HSS MD 26 2024 - National Patient Safety Alert - Shortage of KAY-CEE-L (Poatassium Chloride 375MG 5ML) (Potassium Chloride 5MMOL 5ML) Syrup Adobe PDF (241 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 27/2024 - National Patient Safety Alert – Shortage of human Albumin 4.5% and 5% dose vials Adobe PDF (235 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 28/2024 - Shingles vaccination programme 2024 Adobe PDF (289 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 29/2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Update-Yellow Card Biobank-Call to contribute to study of genetic links to side effects Adobe PDF (204 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 30/2024 - New restrictions on use of Puberty suppressing hormones (Puberty Blockers) in Northern Ireland– Information for prescribers and pharmacists/dispensing doctors Adobe PDF (235 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 32/2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Update – Valproate use in men as a precaution, men and their partners should use effective contraception Adobe PDF (212 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 33/2024 - Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2024/25 Adobe PDF (475 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 34/2024 (Addendum) - Covid-19 Autumn 2024 Booster Vaccination Programme Adobe PDF (319 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 35/2024 - Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2024/2025 - Extension to all Health and Social Care Workers Adobe PDF (241 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 36/2024 - National Patient Safety Alert – Update - Discontinuation of Kay-Cee-L® (Potassium Chloride 375mg 5ml) (Potassium Chloride 5mmol 5ml) Syrup Adobe PDF (225 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 37/2024 - National Patient Safety Alert – Shortage of Molybdenum-99 Technetium-99m Generators Adobe PDF (260 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 38/2024 - MHRA Drug Safety Updates Adobe PDF (218 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 39/2024 - Autumn 2024 25 Seasonal Influenza and Covid-19 Vaccination Programmes for Health and Social Care Workers Adobe PDF (140 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 40/2024 - Letter - MHRA Drug ~ MedSafetyWeek November 2024 - Your Yellow Card report helps prevent future harm to others and improves patient safety Adobe PDF (137 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 41/2024 - Confirmed Influenza in Northern Ireland - NICE Guidance on use of antivirals now applies Adobe PDF (309 KB)
    • HSS(MD)42/2024 - Folic Acid Supplementation – continued advice for those who are planning a pregnancy or newly pregnant Adobe PDF (305 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 43/2024 - Influenza Vaccination for High-Risk Poultry and Avian Animal Health Workers Adobe PDF (262 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 44/2024 UK-Wide Indefinite Order to prevent new patients aged under 18 from taking puberty blockers for the purposes of Gender Incongruence and/or Gender Dysphoria under the care of private prescribers Adobe PDF (235 KB)
    • HSS(MD) 45/2024 - National Patient Safety Alert – Shortage of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (Pert) – Additional Actions Adobe PDF (219 KB)

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