Cardiovascular – MO opportunities
This report has data at SICBL, ICB and Commissioning Region level and focuses on the cardiovascular MO opportunities:
- Identifying patients with atrial fibrillation and using best value direct-acting oral anticoagulants
- Identifying patients with hypertension and starting antihypertensives where appropriate
- Optimising lipid management for cardiovascular disease prevention
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.
NHS England Aims:
- To increase the diagnosis of AF and anti-coagulate with the best value DOAC where clinically appropriate.
- Identify patients with hypertension and start antihypertensives when appropriate.
- Increase the proportion of patients with CVD prescribed a statin and 2nd line therapies where required, to optimise lipid management. Reduction in CVD deaths, and hospital admissions for MI and stroke.
The report is provided to NHS colleagues only, please do not share outside the NHS.
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Frequency
Quarterly
Data period
January 2023 to December 2025
Monthly formulary amendments – December 2025
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 December 2025.
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
Monthly Horizon Scanning Report – December 2025
Monthly horizon scanning reports are designed to inform the NHS about new products, significant changes to product licences, significant new guidance, and decisions that have been made by recognised bodies.
This edition covers new and updated medicines and guidance published in November 2025.
This information is produced for use by NHS healthcare professionals.
Ciclosporin eye drops for dry eye disease
This document compares the ciclosporin eye drops licensed in the UK for use in adults. It is intended as a quick reference to summarise differences between the available preparations.
Annual Horizon Scanning Report 2026-2027
Each year the RDTC considers the information published in the SPS Prescribing Outlook series, and from this information highlights developments that are likely to have significant impact on primary care prescribing budgets, over the coming 12 – 15 months.
This is supplemented throughout the year with the RDTC Monthly Horizon Scanning series, which provides an account of new medicines and recommendations as they publish. This is available from the RDTC website.
The Annual Horizon Scanning report highlights relevant national guidance and policies, expected cost pressures, and anticipated risks.
This publication is part of our Strategic Support and Planning contract.
Shared care protocol – hydroxycarbamide in adults
This shared care protocol is based on the version published nationally by NHS England. The clinical content has been reviewed against current national guidance, and updated accordingly on the date indicated in the document.
These templates are provided to the North West and North East and Yorkshire ICBs for localisation and approval through standard ICB processes. Prescribers should refer to their local medicines committee website and formulary pages e.g. GMMMG, NTAG to ensure they are using the version adopted by their ICB.
Update information
Every effort is made to keep the content up to date. See the document control page of the template for details of any changes. These changes will be cascaded to the NEY and NW medicines committees secretariat.
Current version: v2.0
Last updated: 16th December 2025
Shared care protocol – amiodarone for adults
This shared care protocol is based on the version published nationally by NHS England. The clinical content has been reviewed against current national guidance, and updated accordingly on the date indicated in the document.
These templates are provided to the North West and North East and Yorkshire ICBs for localisation and approval through standard ICB processes. Prescribers should refer to their local medicines committee website and formulary pages e.g. GMMMG, NTAG to ensure they are using the version adopted by their ICB.
Update information
Every effort is made to keep the content up to date. See the document control page of the template for details of any changes. These changes will be cascaded to the NEY and NW medicines committees secretariat.
Current version: v2.0
Last updated: 16th December 2025
Shared care protocol – dronedarone for adults
This shared care protocol is based on the version published nationally by NHS England. The clinical content has been reviewed against current national guidance, and updated accordingly on the date indicated in the document.
These templates are provided to the North West and North East and Yorkshire ICBs for localisation and approval through standard ICB processes. Prescribers should refer to their local medicines committee website and formulary pages e.g. GMMMG, NTAG to ensure they are using the version adopted by their ICB.
Update information
Every effort is made to keep the content up to date. See the document control page of the template for details of any changes. These changes will be cascaded to the NEY and NW medicines committees secretariat.
Current version: v2.0
Last updated: 16th December 2025
Bortezimib for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
RDTC D&T reviews are prepared in response to specific requests. They are intended for use by drug and therapeutics groups or equivalent committees, to support the review of applications to use a treatment in an individual or cohort. They are not intended to be used as standalone publications
A copy of this review is available on request from nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net.
Shared care protocol – riluzole for adults
This shared care protocol is based on the version published nationally by NHS England. The clinical content has been reviewed against current national guidance, and updated accordingly on the date indicated in the document.
These templates are provided to the North West and North East and Yorkshire ICBs for localisation and approval through standard ICB processes. Prescribers should refer to their local medicines committee website and formulary pages e.g. GMMMG, NTAG to ensure they are using the version adopted by their ICB.
Update information
Every effort is made to keep the content up to date. See the document control page of the template for details of any changes. These changes will be cascaded to the NEY and NW medicines committees secretariat.
Current version: v2.0
Last updated: 2nd December 2025