Medicines guidance for healthcare professionals

Medicines guidance for healthcare professionals

The Welsh Medicines Advice Service produces medicines-related guidance for healthcare professionals across NHS Wales.

These pages are currently under development and we would welcome feedback on them.


Resources to support safe provision of antibiotic solid dosage forms to children

December 2022

These resources are intended for use during the acute period of antibiotic liquid supply uncertainty.

Information for healthcare professionals on using solid dosage forms of antibiotics when liquid preparations are not available.

Information for parents and carers (Welsh) on using solid dosage forms of antibiotics for children. 

Information for parents and carers on using solid dosage forms of antibiotics for children. 

The Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) that have been put in place during supply issues with some of these antibiotics can be accessed via the NHS BSA website.


Resources to support the Clinical Community Pharmacy Service

National Patient Group Directive (PGD) templates for local adoption

The Welsh Medicines Advice Service has developed these PGDs for local authorisation. To adopt these PGDs locally, please make sure that you open them in Adobe Acrobat.

Templates Only – not legal for use until authorised by the relevant Local Health Board

PGD for the administration of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine by pharmacists delivering the Community Pharmacy seasonal influenza vaccination component of the clinical community pharmacy service.

PGD for the supply and / or administration of Levonorgestrel 1500 microgram tablet by pharmacists delivering the Community Pharmacy emergency contraception component of the clinical community pharmacy service.

PGD for the supply and / or administration of Ulipristal Acetate (ellaOne®) 30mg tablet by pharmacists delivering the Community Pharmacy emergency contraception component of the clinical community pharmacy service.

PGD for the supply of Desogestrel 75 microgram tablet by pharmacists delivering the clinical community pharmacy service for bridging and quickstart oral contraception.

PGD for the supply of antibiotics by pharmacists delivering the Sore Throat Test and Treat Service.

Clinical Guidance for Community Pharmacists

Sore Throat Test and Treat (STTT)

This monograph supports the Community Pharmacy Sore Throat Test and Treat (STTT) additional clinical service.

Bridging and QuickStart oral contraception

The following guidance has been produced by the NESB Community Pharmacy Services working group. Please direct any questions about these to your Local Health Board community pharmacy lead, or the service lead.


Biosimilars and Generic Equivalents

Understanding ranibizumab biosimilar: Ongavia®

Healthcare professionals: Practical information on the procurement, storage, supply and administration of Ongavia®▼ biosimilar.

A patient information leaflet (Welsh) about Ongavia®▼ biosimilar.

A patient information leaflet (English) about Ongavia®▼ biosimilar.

Understanding abiraterone (Zytiga®) generic equivalents

Healthcare professionals: Practical information on the procurement, storage and supply of Zytiga® generic equivalents. 

A patient information leaflet (Welsh) about Zytiga® generic equivalents.

A patient information leaflet (English) about Zytiga® generic equivalents.

Understanding lenalidomide (Revlimid®▼) generic equivalents

Healthcare professionals: Practical information on the procurement, storage and supply of Revlimid®▼ generic equivalents.

Pathfinder Risk Management Platform letter for healthcare professionals.

Pathfinder Risk Management Platform FAQs for healthcare professionals.

Healthcare professionals can use these links to access the Pathfinder RMP, the Pharmacy Training Video, the Prescriber Training Video, and User Guide.

A patient information leaflet (Welsh) about Revlimid®▼ generic equivalents.

A patient information leaflet (English) about Revlimid®▼ generic equivalents.


Change history

01 Jun 23

HCP practical information (lenalidomide) partial update.

06 Feb 23

Serious shortage protocol information added.

09 Jan 23

STTT guidance and PGD updated

15 Dec 22

Safe provision of solid dosage forms to children PIL (Welsh) added.

09 Dec 22

Safe provision of solid dosage forms to children guidance added.

06 Dec 22

Lenalidomide PIL added (Welsh).

02 Dec 22

Layout amended. Bridging and QuickStart contraception service guidance added.

30 Nov 22

Lenalidomide support for healthcare professionals added. Desogestrel PGD updated. STTT PGD updated.

28 Nov 22           

Lenalidomide PIL added.

23 Nov 22

Desogestrel PGD updated.

10 Nov 22           

Community Pharmacy Sore Throat Test and Treat (STTT) support added.

17 Oct 22           

Abiraterone and ranibizumab PILs added.

06 Oct 22           

Abiraterone support documents added.

20 Sep 22           

Emergency Contraception PGDs added.

30 Aug 22         

Influenza Vaccine PGD updated.

22 Aug 22         

Influenza Vaccine PGD added.

18 Jul 22           

Published.

Cymraeg