Important: Formulation and dosage details
Formulation:
Bladder instillation 12·5mg, 81mg (specialist use only)
We asked you in January to update to v4.7.2. After the deployment planned for 27th February, this new update will be needed to ensure that you are able to download RDS toolkits even when the RDS website is not available. We will wait until as many users as possible have downloaded the new version before switching off the old system for app downloads and moving entirely to the new approach.
To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number.
To update to the latest release:
On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.
On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.
Welcome to the February 2025 update from the RDS team
A new release of RDS is planned (subject to outcomes of current testing) for week beginning 24th February. This will deliver:
The release will also incorporate a number of small fixes, including:
We will let you know when the date and time for the new release are confirmed.
There is now the capability to publish toolkits on the web with left hand side navigation rather than tiles on the homepage. To use this feature, turn on the “Toggle navigation panel” option at the top of the Page settings menu at toolkit homepage level – see below. Please note that publication to downloadable mobile app for this type of navigation is still under development.
The Benzodiazepine tapering tool (https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/benzotapering) is now available as part of the RDS toolkit for the national benzodiazepine prescribing guidance developed by the Scottish Government Effective Prescribing team. The tool uses this national guidance developed with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary group. This should be used in combination with professional judgement and an understanding of the needs of the individual patient.
Due to the intensive work Tactuum has had to undertake on the new technology infrastructure has pushed back the delivery dates again and some new requirements have come out of the recent user acceptance testing. It now looks likely to be an April release for the search and browse interface. The archiving and version control functionality may be released earlier. We’ll keep you posted.
At the end of January, Olivia completed the generation of the latest set of usage statistics for all RDS toolkits. If you would like a copy of the stats for your toolkit, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot .
We have now generated reports of all RDS toolkit content that has exceeded its review date by 6 months or more. We will be in touch later this month with toolkit owners and editors to agree the plan for updating or withdrawing out of date content.
Some important toolkits in development by the RDS team include:
The RDS team and other information scientists in HIS have also been producing evidence summaries for the Scottish Government Realistic Medicine team, to inform development of national guidance around Procedures of Limited Clinical Value. This guidance will in due course be translated into an RDS toolkit.
To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)
To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area. If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.
With kind regards
Right Decision Service team
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Injection pre-filled syringe (alfa-2a (rbe); Roferon-A®) 3 million units/0·5mL, 4·5 million units/0·5mL, 6 million units/0·5mL, 9 million units/0·5mL (specialist use only)
MHRA advice: Immunomodulatory drugs and pregnancy prevention: temporary advice for management during coronavirus (COVID-19) (May 2020) (www.gov.uk)
MHRA advice: Lenalidomide (Revlimid): risk of serious hepatic adverse drug reactions (December 2014) (www.gov.uk)
MHRA advice: Lenalidomide (Revlimid): update on risk of second primary malignancy (December 2014) (www.gov.uk)
MHRA advice: Lenalidomide: risk of thrombosis and thromboembolism (December 2014) (www.gov.uk)
Risk minimisation materials
Capsules 2·5mg, 5mg, 7·5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 25mg (hospital use only)
MHRA advice: Immunomodulatory drugs and pregnancy prevention: temporary advice for management during coronavirus (COVID-19) (May 2020) (www.gov.uk).
MHRA advice: Pomalidomide (Imnovid): risk of hepatitis B reactivation (May 2016) (www.gov.uk).
MHRA advice: Pomalidomide (Imnovid): risks of cardiac failure, interstitial lung disease and hepatotoxicity (May 2015) (www.gov.uk).
Risk minimisation materials
Capsules 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, 4mg (specialist use only)
As per SMC 972/14: in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.
MHRA advice: Immunomodulatory drugs and pregnancy prevention: temporary advice for management during coronavirus (COVID-19) (May 2020) (www.gov.uk).
MHRA advice: Thalidomide: reduced starting dose in patients older than age 75 years (December 2015) (www.gov.uk).
Risk minimisation materials
Capsules (Thalidomide Celgene®) 50mg (specialist use only)
As per SMC 525/08: in combination with melphalan and prednisone, as first line treatment of patients with untreated multiple myeloma, aged 65 years or over or ineligible for high dose chemotherapy.