NHS Medicines Optimisation Opportunities Dashboard 2023-24
At the end of July 2023 NHSE published guidance titled “National medicines optimisation opportunities 2023/24”. This guidance describes the 16 national medicines optimisation opportunities for the NHS in 2023/24, and signposts to resources to help with their implementation. It recommends Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) choose at least five medicines optimisation opportunities to focus and deliver on alongside their local medicines optimisation priorities. Progress against chosen opportunities will be reviewed using available data.
The RDTC has developed a Northern regions dashboard to highlight the current position of the ICBs across the North of England in relation to these 16 priorities. It will incorporate the metrics that are being developed nationally, but also include metrics which are designed to support medicines optimisation opportunities across the North.
Metrics within this dashboard continue to be developed and updates will be communicated out to stakeholders as they happen. We do not at this time intend to include sub ICB level data.
The dashboard is provided to NHS colleagues only, please do not share outside the NHS.
Monthly Horizon Scanning Report – November 2023
Monthly horizon scanning reports are designed to inform the NHS about new products, significant changes to product licenses, significant new guidance, and decisions that have been made by recognised bodies.
This information is produced for use by NHS healthcare professionals.
Monthly Formulary Amendments – October 2023
Monthly Formulary Amendments Documents list any NICE Technology Appraisals, NICE Guidelines, MHRA Drug Safety Updates, and National Patient Safety Alerts published in the previous calendar month which may have an impact on local formularies and guidelines. This document is for APCs, and formulary committees to ensure formularies remain up to date, and in line with latest NICE guidance and safety information.
This edition covers guidance and alerts published in October 2023.
It includes a suggested formulary position for APCs/formulary committees, together with a summary of any financial/commissioning implications. The purpose of the document is to support consistent decision making by APCs.
This information is produced for use by NHS healthcare professionals and RDTC stakeholders.
Thresholds & barriers to uptake of Electronic Repeat Dispensing – RPS Conference 2023
This poster was first presented at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Conference, November 2023 in London. It investigates whether there are thresholds at which barriers to uptake of electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) present themselves in primary care, and whether the difficulties are drug-specific or require change to prescription management processes.
Stakeholders can also see our previous work on eRD: Electronic repeat dispensing: Understanding the prescribing population & initial barriers to uptake.
Effect of social prescribing on medicines use in primary care – CPC North 2023
This poster was presented at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress North, November 2023 in Manchester. It was previously presented at the Great North Pharmacy Research Collaborative in July 2023. It investigates the impact of social prescribing on primary care prescribing of medicines in practices with a high level of deprivation; find the poster and abstract below.
Impact of deprivation on primary care prescribing by AWARE category – CPC North 2023
This poster was presented at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress North, November 2023 in Manchester. It was previously presented at the Great North Pharmacy Research Collaborative in July 2023. It investigates the impact of deprivation on antimicrobial prescribing; find the poster and abstract below.
Cost Comparison Charts
Overview
The charts included within this report are organised by BNF classification (legacy) and show comparative costs at the NHS basic price1,2 (as of October 2023) for selected agents. Except where indicated otherwise, each chart shows the cost of 1 year3 of treatment at a commonly prescribed daily dose (shown in brackets). The doses given are not intended to imply therapeutic equivalence and for some BNF sub-classifications, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), the doses may vary according to indication. Additionally, in some therapeutic areas, for instance antibacterial drugs, the duration of treatment may differ from that shown. Primarily, this report focuses on costs related to prescribing in adults. There are however a few exceptions where products specifically for use in children are represented, such as in the emollient and Infant formulas sections. Additional notes to highlight any relevant cost related information are also added where appropriate, to improve the clarity of the information presented.
Rationale for inclusion: the cost comparison charts (CCCs) aim to represent the diversity of products available; including the least expensive, most prescribed, higher cost products being prescribed and products with additional features. The products included are furthermore considered in the context of national and local guidance and stakeholder formulary decisions. It is not possible to represent all pharmaceuticals within these charts.
Stakeholders (under password protection) can access the current version of the CCCs via our website in three formats: PDF, Word and Excel. The Excel version incorporates a more detailed comparison of contraceptives and allows charts to be split by BNF subsections in some instances.
References
1. NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA). Drug tariff.
2. NHS BSA. Dictionary of medicines and devices (dM+d).
3. 1 year in this instance is equal to 364 days (rather than 365) standardising 1 month as equal to 28 days.
Time Period
October 2023
Frequency
Quarterly
Drugs for Dementia
Overview
This report looks at prescribing trends in primary care for Drugs for Dementia at SICBL and ICB level with particular focus on low strength antipsychotics. Prescribing data is weighted with QOF registers.
If you have any queries about the content of the report please contact us at nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net
Frequency
Quarterly
Data Period
July 2020 to June 2023
Respiratory System
Overview
This report looks at prescribing trends in primary care for the Respiratory System at SICBL and ICB level with particular focus on bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Prescribing data is weighted with QOF registers, and also uses HES data to measure prescribing to outcomes. The report also calculates the potential opportunity cost for respiratory drugs based on the NHS England Right Care indicators.
If you have any queries about the content of the report please contact us at nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net
Frequency
Quarterly
Data Period
July 2020 to June 2023
Drugs used in Diabetes
Overview
This report looks at prescribing trends in primary care for Drugs used in Diabetes at SICBL and ICB level with particular focus on insulins, anti-diabetic drugs and diagnostic & monitoring devices. Prescribing data is weighted with QOF registers, and also uses HES data to measure prescribing outcomes.
If you have any queries about the content of the report please contact us at nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net
Frequency
Quarterly
Data Period
July 2020 to June 2023