http://www.nps.org.au/homeEverything new at NPSHypnotic medicines were prescribed for 95 per 100 insomnia problems encountered in general practice between 2006–08. Benzodiazepines and other related drugs can be avoided by using non-drug therapies.http://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/publications/prescribing_practice_review/current/prescribing_practice_review_49Several changes have been made to the National Prescribing Service Board with the appointment of two new directors and the reappointment of an existing director.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/New_appointments_to_NPS_BoardWritten by the National Prescribing Service, RADAR is a timely publication containing independent, evidence-based assessments of new drugs, new PBS listings and the latest research for doctors, pharmacists and other health professionalshttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Nebivolol,_Methylnaltrexone_reviewed_in_the_latest_edition_of_RADARSummary of the fourth national survey of pharmacists undertaken by the National Prescribing Service.http://www.nps.org.au/research_and_evaluation/publications/reports/ph_survey_4_execSummary of the sixth national survey of general practitioners (GPs) undertaken by the National Prescribing Service.http://www.nps.org.au/research_and_evaluation/publications/reports/NatGPSurvey2008ExecSummaryProgress, achievements and future directions of NPS from 2008 to 2009, with an emphasis on monitoring processes and implementation and measuring impacts and outcomes.http://www.nps.org.au/research_and_evaluation/publications/reports/reports/report_12Describes roles, responsibilities and realtionships of the position, plus the skills and experience required. Includes a form to apply online.http://www.nps.org.au/careers/positions_vacant/positions/information_design_and_management/job_title3Describes roles, responsibilities and realtionships of the position, plus the skills and experience required. Includes a form to apply online.http://www.nps.org.au/careers/positions_vacant/positions/information_design_and_management/job_title4Describes roles, responsibilities and realtionships of the position, plus the skills and experience required. Includes a form to apply online.http://www.nps.org.au/careers/positions_vacant/positions/information_design_and_management/job_title2Free education sessions; vaccinations; blood pressure; review of new Parkinson’s medicine; national census; National Medicines Symposium 2010; radio interviews with Dr John D’Arcyhttp://www.nps.org.au/consumers/publications/community_update/updates/community_update_march_2010NPS's Diagnostics initiative builds on our expertise to improve utilisation of diagnostic tests and enable people to make the best decisions for better health outcomes.http://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/diagnosticsMethylnaltrexone can be used to treat opioid-induced constipation in palliative care patients who haven’t responded to adequately titrated laxatives.http://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/publications/nps_radar/2010/march_2010/methylnaltrexoneInformation on use of Nebivolol (Nebilet) for chronic heart failurehttp://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/publications/nps_radar/2010/march_2010/nebivololENROL ONLINE NOW! Full listing of all NPS clinical audits, what they are, and eligibility for CPD points and incentives.http://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/activities/clinical_audits_for_gpsRecent research from the US suggests women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer may benefit from taking aspirin but the National Prescribing Service (NPS) warns people to talk to their health professional before self-medicating.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Women_warned_aspirinPreliminary data from the National Census of Medicines Use in Australia shows a significant number of adverse medicines events aren’t being reported to GPs and people are struggling to identify information sources they can easily understand.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/National_Census_revealing_extent_of_medicines_use_problemsAwareness of the National Prescribing Service (NPS) and utilisation of its products and services increased significantly over 2005–09, according to the latest NPS evaluation report.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_offering_more_and_reachingHigh blood pressure is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ because most people don’t feel any symptoms until it has caused considerable damage to their body. High blood pressure affects more than 2 million Australians and contributes to thousands of deaths every year.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/High_blood_pressure_theVaccinations are usually associated with young children or travelling overseas, but immunisations given at childhood can wear off and leave adults exposed to debilitating diseases.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Time_to_think_about_vaccinationsThe latest clinical audit for GPs on use of hypnotic medicines in insomniahttp://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/activities/about_clinical_audit_benzodiazepinesThe latest NPS education program ‘Management options to maximise sleep’ encourages prescribers to recommend non-drug therapies as first-line treatment for insomnia and to discuss the importance of good sleep practices and the potential harms of hypnotic medicines with the patient before prescribing hypnotics.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/New_clinical_program_addressesApproximately 1000 new cases of tuberculosis (or TB) are diagnosed in Australia each year. While most patients become infected overseas and transmission within Australia is limited to small clusters, fast and accurate diagnosis is still important as TB can be highly infectious.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Testing_for_tuberculosisInjected iodinated radiographic contrast media is generally safe, however with increased use adverse events are more likely to occur. In the latest edition of Australian Prescriber Kenneth Thomson, Professor and Director of Radiology, and Dinesh Varma, Head of Trauma and Emergency Radiology, at The Alfred in Melbourne, consider the indications for contrast media.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Safe_use_of_radiographicThe February edition of Australian Prescriber is out now and looks at topical issueshttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Drug_warnings_contrast_mediaHypnotic medicines were prescribed for 95 per 100 insomnia problems encountered in general practice between 2006–08. Benzodiazepines and other related drugs can be avoided by using non-drug therapies.http://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/publications/nps_news/current/nps_news_67MedicinesTalk Summer 2009 has articles on medicines for high blood pressure, vaccinations, help for people with chronic illness and home medicines reviews.http://www.nps.org.au/consumers/publications/medicines_talk/medicinestalk_no._32_summer_2009The role of new prescribers, pharmacogenetics, and new technologies are just some of the major topics affecting pharmacists that will be covered at this year’s National Medicines Symposium.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/National_Medicines_Symposium_2010_to_help_pharmacistsThe National Prescribing Service (NPS) is looking for bilingual doctors and pharmacists who speak Greek, Arabic, Macedonian, Croatian, Spanish or Korean to participate in interviews with multicultural media.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Bilingual_health_professionals_needed_for_radioHealth academics, health workers and policy makers from the Asia-Pacific region are invited to apply for a scholarship to attend the prestigious National Medicines Symposium in Australia in May 2010.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Asia-Pacific_scholarship_on_offerParkinson’s disease affects more than 80,000 Australians. In the latest edition of Medicine Update the National Prescribing Service (NPS) provides an independent review of pramipexole (Sifrol), which can be used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s diseasehttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Independent_review_of_new_Parkinsons_medicine