Talking Meds - A PrescQIPP podcast

PrescQIPP C.I.C.
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 Engaging conversations about medicines-related dilemmas.Talking Meds is hosted by Jonathan Underhill who, every two weeks, will chat to a fantastic guest about current medical issues and clinical dilemmas. Jonathan has a background as a hospital clinical pharmacist but worked for many years at the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) developing innovative ways of teaching therapeutics, evidence-based medicine and clinical decision making to prescribers and their support teams. Until recently, he worked at NICE as a consultant clinical adviser in their Medicines Optimisation Team. He is now Medicines Clinical Adviser at PrescQIPP. Jonathan and his guests will discuss topics such as new guidance from NICE on menopause, asthma, depression deprescribing and insomnia; how to tackle penicillin allergy de-labelling. There will also be a series on ’Sensible prescribing in Older people with Jonathan and Lucy’, with consultant geriatrician and author Lucy Pollock.PrescQIPP is a Community Interest Company. We operate on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of NHS patients and organisations and help NHS organisations to improve medicines-related care to patients. Find out more here: https://www.prescqipp.info/

  1. 1d ago

    43. Social prescribing with Monica Boulton

    Welcome to this episode of Talking Meds where your host, Jonathan Underhill, Medicines Clinical Adviser at PrescQIPP, talks to Monica Boulton about the role of social prescribing. Social prescribing involves connecting people to activities, groups and support to improve their health and wellbeing. Many things that affect our health, like loneliness, debt, stress or poor housing, can't be treated by medicine alone.  Social prescribing connects people to non-medical support to address these issues and other unmet need. This may involve helping someone join a befriending group, an art class or choir, take up exercise or even help them connect with services to help them manage debt. In short, it can help people to connect and to grow in confidence. Monica is the Strategic Lead for Healthcare Integration & Neighbourhood Health at the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP). With over a decade of experience in social prescribing, Monica initially worked on local implementation before moving into strategic planning and programme delivery on both local and national scales. She now leads NASP’s Social Prescribing Workforce Programme with a role seeking to promote clinical engagement, drive integration of social prescribing across healthcare systems, and championing workforce development. PrescQIPP have hosted a series of webinars to raise awareness of social prescribing. Attendees who complete all seven webinars (including watched the recordings), will be awarded 'Social Prescribing Champion' status as part of the NASP clinical champion programme A new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    33 min

  2. May 1

    42. Medication safety initiatives with Emma Kirk

    Welcome to this episode of Talking Meds where your host, Jonathan Underhill, Medicines Clinical Adviser at PrescQIPP, talks to Emma Kirk who is the Medication Safety Officer Network Lead for the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS). Emma and Jonathan explore the thorny issue of medication safety and some of the initiatives to improve this. We will look at the role of medication safety Officers or MSOs and some of the commonly seen errors such as look alike sound alike errors – LASA errors. Emma is a nationally recognised leader in medication safety. As the MSO Network Lead, she provides strategic support to MSOs across England, driving forward the national medication safety agenda. Her work focuses on advancing safer use of medicines through education, collaboration and system level improvement. This shapes safer practices and strengthens professional networks to promote a culture of continuous learning and patient safety across the NHS. PrescQIPP resources mentioned: Look Alike Sound-Alike error awareness and prevention E-learningMedicines safety webkit Bulletin 336. Reducing opioid prescribing in chronic painBulletin 349. Look-alike sound-alike prescribing errorsBulletin 351. InsulinBulletin 356. Stopping overmedication of psychotropic drugsBulletin 360. Anticholinergic burdenBulletin 361. Medicines without harmBulletin 373. Medicines safetyOther resourced mentioned: Specialist Pharmacy Service - The Medication Safety Officer (MSO) roleCentre for Pharmacy PostGraduate Education (CPPE) Patient safety eLearningHealth Innovation North West Coast - Medicines Safety ProgrammeA new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    25 min

  3. Apr 3

    41. Prison pharmacy services with Denise Farmer

    Welcome to this episode of Talking Meds, discussing medicines optimisation challenges for people in secure settings such as prisons. Your host, Jonathan Underhill, Medicines Clinical Adviser at PrescQIPP, talks to Denise Farmer. Denise is Pharmaceutical Adviser for Health and Justice Commissioning at NHS England. She has a longstanding interest in pharmacy services and medicines pathways in health and justice settings from local to national levels. She first entered a prison in Norfolk while working in a Primary Care Trust (PCT) in 2002 and never really left! Denise’s role provides strategic support for commissioners and service providers. She leads delivery of national H&J medicines policy and strategy to improve medicines optimisation in secure custodial environments. Further information about NHS England's commissioned services for people in prisons, immigration removal centres and secure environments for children and young people is available here: NHS commissioning » Health and justice Resources mentioned in this episode: PrescQIPP resources with recommendations about health and justice and contact details.Shared resources awards project 2025https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/what-i-do-as-a-pharmacist-in-the-prison-serviceProviding pharmacy services for secure environments (2026) : CPPERPS professional standards: Optimising Medicines in Secure EnvironmentsRCGPSEG: Safer prescribing in Prisons and other useful resources: Secure environments group and the affiliated UK Health and Justice NetworkHealth and Justice Medicines Optimisation Network - Futures (NHS Login required)HEE/NHS WTE Careers map has a HJ area and an example in their case studies: Health & Justice - Pharmacy CareersSPS run webinars/events for secure environments teams and stakeholders: Latest developments in Health and Justice Medicines Optimisation – NHS SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines adviceA new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    39 min

  4. Mar 20

    40. Genomics-informed medicines optimisation part 2 with Vicky Chaplin & Paul Selby

    Welcome to the second of our two episodes of Talking Meds about Genomics-informed medicines optimisation! We are again joined by Vicky Chaplin and Paul Selby. Vicky is the Senior Clinical Lead for the Genomics Unit at NHS England, while Paul is a Consultant Pharmacist in Genomics, working at East Genomics. Again, Paul and Vicky have many qualifications in genomics and its great to have them both here to give both a National and Local view of what’s happening in this area. In this second episode we delve deeper into what the Ten Year NHS Plan says about genomics as well as the latest developments around genomics-informed medicines optimisation, and discuss what might be coming over the horizon very soon! PrescQIPP resources mentioned in this episode: Pharmacogenomics webinar seriesClinical Masterclass - November 2023 - Pharmacogenomics: Is it time for implementation into clinical practice?Other resources: Genomics in Pharmacy - Genomics Education ProgrammeSpotlight: PROGRESS projectPharmacy genomics workforce, education and training strategic frameworkUKCPA Genomics communityUKCPA Handbook of PharmacogenomicsCERSI-PGx - ADVANCING PHARMACOGENOMICS IN THE UKFit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for EnglandPrescQIPP Annual Awards 2026 - Entries are now open for the 2026 PrescQIPP Awards - deadline: 15th May 2026 Now is the time to share all the good work you have done over the past year and be in for a chance to win a prestigious PrescQIPP award -  open to all teams working with the NHS across all sectors! Categories for 2026: Addressing health inequalitiesCare homes/domiciliary care/carer medicines optimisationData tools and technology to support medicines optimisationEnhanced productivity, sustainability and value for moneyPatient safety and address overprescribingA new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    32 min

  5. Mar 6

    39. Medicines optimisation during periods of fasting with Dr Salman Waqar

    Welcome to this episode of Talking Meds where we are going to be talking about taking medicines during periods of fasting. This is particularly relevant at times of the year like this during Ramadan or during Lent for some Christians who observe that. And of course intermittent fasting is very popular as a way of losing or maintaining weight. To discuss this I'm joined by  Dr Salman Waqar. Salman is a GP with a background in academia, policy, medical leadership, public health, and education & training. He also has a strong background in community organising and advocacy. He has vast experience of teaching and training for organisations such as the Royal College of GPs and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and has an honorary academic position at Imperial College London having published over 40 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters (see google scholar list here)  We think there is a significant learning need around medicines issues during periods of fasting, as well as an opportunity to engage with patients who may not otherwise access healthcare services. The resources linked below can help address this. Resources mentioned in this episode; Ramadan Compendium, with risk stratification tablePharmaceutical Journal Article: Case-based learning: medicines management during Ramadan - How pharmacists can support patients in safely and effectively managing medications while fasting.Fasting during Ramadan and fitness for work implications | Occupational Medicine | Oxford AcademicRamadan and Diabetes: A Narrative Review and Practice Update | Diabetes Therapy | Springer Nature LinkPrescQIPP Annual Awards 2026 - Entries are now open for the 2026 PrescQIPP Awards - deadline: 15th May 2026 Now is the time to share all the good work you have done over the past year and be in for a chance to win a prestigious PrescQIPP award -  open to all teams working with the NHS across all sectors! Categories for 2026: Addressing health inequalitiesCare homes/domiciliary care/carer medicines optimisationData tools and technology to support medicines optimisationEnhanced productivity, sustainability and value for moneyPatient safety and address overprescribingA new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    41 min

  6. Feb 20

    38. What is penicillin allergy de-labelling (PADL) and why is it important with Prof Phil Howard

    Welcome to the latest episode of Talking Meds and the PrescQIPP podcast, engaging conversations about medicines-related dilemmas. Today Jonathan Underhill, Medicines Clinical Adviser at PrescQIPP, talks to Prof Philip Howard about penicillin allergy de-labelling, colloquially known as PADL. Philip is a leading expert in antimicrobial stewardship, he currently serves as Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Regional Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead for NHS England North-East & Yorkshire. He is also a Past President of the British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, a member of the DHSA advisory group on AMR and healthcare-acquired infections, and supports NICE in developing infectious disease guidance. He has published widely on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antibiotic shortages, and has delivered AMS education and training globally. Among his many honours, I know he was especially proud to receive an OBE for services to healthcare. Patients with a recorded penicillin allergy cannot receive many first-line antibiotics and may need second or third-line agents, increasing antimicrobial resistance. Although true penicillin allergy can be life-threatening due to anaphylaxis, 6–8% of the UK population (4–5 million people) carry a label, and up to 95% are inaccurate. Careful penicillin allergy de-labelling (PADL) therefore benefits both individuals and public health. PrescQIPP resources mentioned in this episode; Bulletin 313: Antimicrobial stewardshipClinical Masterclass - July 2024 - Antimicrobial Stewardship; NAP for success in AMSAntimicrobial stewardshipNHS Oversight Framework 2025-2026 - ICB performance dashboard: Children prescribed antibiotics in primary careOther resources mentioned in this episode; Summary of antimicrobial prescribing guidance - managing common infectionsStart smart then focus: toolkit summaryALABAMA studyNational patient safety alert – harm from incorrect recording of penicillin allergy as penicillamine allergyA new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    38 min

  7. Feb 6

    37. Exploring non-medicine treatments for insomnia with Dr Dimitri Gavriloff

    Welcome to the latest episode of Talking Meds and the PrescQIPP podcast, engaging conversations about medicines-related dilemmas. Today, your host Jonathan Underhill, Medicines Clinical Adviser at PrescQIPP, talks to Dr Dimitri Gavriloff about sleep disorders and the use of non-medicine interventions to help with this. There has been an issue for some time with the overprescribing of medicines for insomnia with many high profile campaigns to help us reduce the inappropriate use of hypnotics like benzodiazepines and 'z-drugs'. One intervention that has gained prominence in the past few years is the use of CBTI – cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. Dimitri is a Clinical Psychologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist with extensive experience in assessing and treating a wide range of sleep disorders. He has experience of running an NHS tertiary care sleep medicine service and now works at the University of Oxford’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, dividing his time between academic and research roles.  Alongside his academic work, he is the director of Sleep Well Oxford, a sleep clinic and sleep medicine consultancy, and is a consultant in sleep medicine for Big Health Ltd. PrescQIPP resources mentioned in this episode; Bulletin 352. InsomniaClinical webinar - Digital CBT for Insomnia - February 2024Clinical Masterclass - March 2024 - Insomnia: getting back to better sleepOther resources mentioned in this episode; NICE Decision Aid - should I stop my benzodiazepine or z-drug?Spielman's 3 Ps model of insomniaThe Sleep CharityThe ‘5 principles’ of good sleep healthA new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    34 min

  8. Jan 23

    36. Genomics-informed medicines optimisation with Vicky Chaplin & Paul Selby

    Welcome to the first of two episodes of Talking Meds where we are going to be talking about Genomics-informed medicines optimisation! As this may well be a phrase that is as unfamiliar to you as it was to me until recently, we have two guests to help explain what it is and why it is of great importance to us all, either as clinicians or patients. Our first guest, Vicky Chaplin, is the Senior Clinical Lead for the Genomics Unit at NHS England, overseeing the multidisciplinary healthcare professional team and their associated workstreams. She is part of the Chief Pharmacist In England, David Webb’s Senior Leadership Team and Pharmacy Advisory Group – to ensure the work is coordinated across pharmacy and medicines developments across the NHS and government.  Vicky has worked in various sectors of pharmacy in the NHS and has also worked as a Medical Advisor in the pharmaceutical industry. She is qualified as an independent prescriber, specialising in diabetes care.  Joining Vicky is Paul Selby, a Consultant Pharmacist in Genomics, working at East Genomics. Paul has worked in several trusts, but developed his interest in genomics whilst looking after patients with rare and inherited diseases at Cambridge University Hospital Foundation Trust. In this first episode we introduce the concept of genomics-informed medicines optimisation, and discuss what is happening at both National and Local level in the NHS on this. PrescQIPP resources mentioned in this episode; Pharmacogenomics webinar seriesClinical Masterclass - November 2023 - Pharmacogenomics: Is it time for implementation into clinical practice?Other resources mentioned in this episode; Genomics in Pharmacy - Genomics Education ProgrammeSpotlight: Clopidogrel pilot projectUKCPA Genomics communityCERSI-PGx - ADVANCING PHARMACOGENOMICS IN THE UKDihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency - NHS England GeNotesNICE Early Value Assessment - Genedrive MT-RNR1 ID Kit for detecting a genetic variant to guide antibiotic use and prevent hearing loss in babiesA new episode of Talking Meds will be available on the first Friday of the month. If you have feedback or suggestions for future topics and guests please submit them to talkingmeds@prescqipp.info PrescQIPP is funded by the NHS for the NHS, and our aim is to improve medicines-related care for patients. We do this by producing high quality evidence-based resources and training, and by facilitating networks between NHS organisations and professionals. The majority of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across the UK can access our resources by registering and logging on to our website. If you have any difficulty accessing the website you can email help@prescqipp.info and we’ll aim to sort things out for you. Find out more about PrescQIPP here

    34 min
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 Engaging conversations about medicines-related dilemmas.Talking Meds is hosted by Jonathan Underhill who, every two weeks, will chat to a fantastic guest about current medical issues and clinical dilemmas. Jonathan has a background as a hospital clinical pharmacist but worked for many years at the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) developing innovative ways of teaching therapeutics, evidence-based medicine and clinical decision making to prescribers and their support teams. Until recently, he worked at NICE as a consultant clinical adviser in their Medicines Optimisation Team. He is now Medicines Clinical Adviser at PrescQIPP. Jonathan and his guests will discuss topics such as new guidance from NICE on menopause, asthma, depression deprescribing and insomnia; how to tackle penicillin allergy de-labelling. There will also be a series on ’Sensible prescribing in Older people with Jonathan and Lucy’, with consultant geriatrician and author Lucy Pollock.PrescQIPP is a Community Interest Company. We operate on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of NHS patients and organisations and help NHS organisations to improve medicines-related care to patients. Find out more here: https://www.prescqipp.info/

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