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‘I’m just shocked’: Medical updates paused for Prince Philip mourning period

National mourning period for Duke of Edinburgh affects publication of healthcare information and Sage Covid papers

Shaun Lintern
Health Correspondent
Thursday 15 April 2021 19:48 BST
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<p>Prince Philip’s funeral will be held at Windsor Castle on Saturday</p>

Prince Philip’s funeral will be held at Windsor Castle on Saturday

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England’s healthcare watchdog has paused the publication of daily medication updates out of a mark of respect for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

It has also halted all its online content and any promotion of its work until next week.

Separately the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, or Sage, is also not publishing its committee meetings papers on Friday, as it usually does weekly, in order to comply with Cabinet Office rules during the period of national mourning.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has suspended its medicines alerts, which are normally sent out to pharmacists each day to help make them aware of patient risks from medications being used across the NHS.

A copy of the latest medicines awareness service email to pharmacists said: “As a mark of respect following the death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and further to Cabinet Office guidelines, NICE has paused the publication and promotion of all content on its website and other external channels. Normal service will resume from the 19 April.”

The decision prompted criticism from some clinicians. Pharmacist James Milner said: “To be honest I am just shocked as to how anyone can think this is an appropriate course of action. I would love to see the cabinet office guidelines that advise them to do this.”

Community pharmacist, Indy Kudhail, added: “So what are we as medical professionals left to think? That it's open season on matters affecting medicines, and ultimately patient, safety? It beggars belief.

“Obviously a loss to the Royal Family and the country at large, however pharmacovigilence simply cannot be allowed to be paused for any reason.”

Dr David Nicholl, a consultant neurologist said the move was “absolutely inappropriate in a pandemic.”

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association said on Twitter that it could “not explain” the actions of NICE adding: “This suggests safety information may be being delayed for over a week.”

NICE is an executive non-departmental public body, under the Department of Health and Social Care, and is accountable to ministers.

A spokesman for NICE said: “Our medicines awareness alerts provide links to current awareness and evidence-based information relating to medicines and prescribing. They are not formal NICE guidance and nor is it their role to provide a medicines safety alert system.

“In light of Cabinet Office and Department of Health and Social Care advice following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, we have paused publication and promotion of all content on our website. Given the nature and remit of our medicines awareness alerts as described above, this will not affect patient safety in any way.”

NICE said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s central alerting system was where key safety alerts would be issues including guidance to the NHS and other providers of health and social care.

It comes amid a backlash against the BBC for its wall-to-wall coverage of the Prince’s death on Friday with a record 110,000 complaints being made against the broadcaster, which cancelled hours of scheduled programming to mark the news.

Prince Philip’s funeral will be held at Windsor Castle on Saturday with just 30 mourners, including the Queen, due to Covid regulations.

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