Chair

Nabil Boulos, Specialist Pharmacist Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, Southampton Children’s Hospital

Core steering group
Nia Mehrjou, Paediatric Endocrinology Pharmacist, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales

Anna MacLeod, Lead Specialist Pharmacist – Endocrinology, Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust

Faiza Latheef, Advanced Clinical Pharmacist – Endocrinology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Melissa Figueira, Specialist Paediatric Pharmacist Endocrine and Diabetes, Evelina London

Aim
The  aim of this SIG is to represent pharmacists specialising in (or with interest in) endocrinology, diabetes, obesity, and/or bone health, with a focus on facilitating appropriate and efficient use of medicines and pharmaceutical care within these specialities.

Objectives

1. To support, promote and advise on delivery of best pharmaceutical care to paediatric patients with:
   1. Endocrine conditions
   2. Diabetes or pre-diabetes
   3. Obesity
   4. Bone-related disease
2. To maintain a network and provide a platform for paediatric pharmacy staff specialising in (or with interest in) endocrinology, diabetes, obesity and bone health to enhance management of children’s medicines and share best practice.
3. To support trusts and individuals with developing specialist endocrine and diabetes pharmacist roles within established multi-disciplinary teams.
4. To represent and champion paediatric endocrinology pharmacy within the NPPG and the wider NHS.
5. To develop and maintain links with other national endocrinology and diabetes groups, including BSPED (British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes), ACDC (Association of Children’s Diabetes Clinicians), and BPABG (British Paediatric & Adolescent Bone Group).
6. To develop educational resources and signpost to resources developed by other providers.
7. To assist NPPG Clinical Committee responses to national consultations.

Scope

The current scope of the SIG will encompass the following topics and associated pharmacological therapies:

1. Adrenal axis conditions
2. Thyroid axis conditions
3. Gonadal axis conditions and contraceptives
4. Growth disorders
5. AVP deficiency and sodium-water balance
6. Hypoglycaemia and hyperinsulinism
7. Diabetes mellitus (all types) and pre-diabetes
8. Early type 1 diabetes
9. Obesity and complications of excess weight
10. General bone health, including calcium and vitamin D
11. Osteoporosis, including osteogenesis imperfecta and secondary causes
12. X-linked hypophosphataemia and rickets
13. Parathyroid disorders

Communication

• Meetings: the SIG meets virtually every 3 months. Minutes are kept for each meeting and are available to members.
• NPPG message board: a subgroup for specialist enquiries and information sharing. Please contact the chair to be added to the group.
• Quarterly updates: an email with key updates on new developments and recommendations from the steering group, circulated to all members. Please contact the chair to be added to the circulation list.
• Study days and webinars: virtual sessions and study days will be organised and offered to all NPPG members. These will include presentations from specialists and provide opportunities for networking with the SIG members.

Queries and comments

We are happy to support NPPG members, non-members and other healthcare professionals with queries relating to our specialities.

For any queries or comments, please contact the chair, who will reply or forward your message to a suitable member of the steering group.

SIG members can also post messages directly on the NPPG message board.