Author: Stephen Erhorn

February 2023 Newsletter

March 1, 2023

Prescribing support newsletters aim to inform readers of work done by the unit and work in progress, to help tailor local work plans and highlight any ‘topical’ issues in prescribing or medicines management.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletter, then please contact nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net

This month’s edition focuses on RDTC resources to help you make the most of your budget, updates to the cost comparison charts, the voluntary recall of certain FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors, and an E-learning programme on internet safety, suicide, and self-harm. It highlights recent publications from the RDTC including a series of publications as part of the Polypharmacy and Overprescribing theme reviewing opioid prescribing, and a Prescribing Bulletin looking at the budget impact of Metformin immediate release 1g tablets. It also includes another in the series of “Meet the Team” where you can get to know the people behind the work we do. There is also information on some key medicines availability issues and serious shortage protocols

Download the February 2023 newsletter here

Prescribing for Population Health – Polypharmacy and Overprescribing: Opioids

February 17, 2023

In recent years, there has been increasing concern regarding the overprescribing of opioids and associated harms. The RDTC has produced a series of publications as part of the Polypharmacy and Overprescribing theme reviewing opioid prescribing:

Each publication includes considerations and interventions for medicines optimisation teams and health systems. To avoid duplication across this series of overprescribing and polypharmacy opioid publications, the suggested actions have only been listed in the most relevant theme but may apply across all. We recommend reading all parts of the series sequentially to ensure the breadth of potential actions are known. The publications can be accessed using the links below:

PPH 3. Polypharmacy & Overprescribing: Opioid patient populations:

This publication aims to support greater understanding of the patient populations prescribed opioids and the inter-relationships and dependencies between prescribing and the available metrics.

PPH 4. Polypharmacy & Overprescribing: Opioid patient demographics:

This publication aims to support greater understanding of the demographics of the patient populations prescribed opioids.

PPH 5. Opioid population health management:

This publication aims to support greater understanding of the population health management of patients prescribed opioids, specifically in terms of deprivation level and the impact on sustainability and climate change.

December 2022 Newsletter

December 30, 2022

Prescribing support newsletters aim to inform readers of work done by the unit and work in progress, to help tailor local work plans and highlight any ‘topical’ issues in prescribing or medicines management.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletter, then please contact nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net

This month’s edition focuses on polypharmacy, influenza in the community – prescribing antivirals, group A streptococcus in children – advice for clinicians, and the MHRA review on the safe use of valproate. We also include recent publications from the RDTC and another in the series of “Meet the Team” where you can get to know the people behind the work we do. There is also information on some key medicines availability issues and serious shortage protocols.

Download the December 2022 newsletter here

October 2022 Newsletter

October 31, 2022

Prescribing support newsletters aim to inform readers of work done by the unit and work in progress, to help tailor local work plans and highlight any ‘topical’ issues in prescribing or medicines management.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletter, then please contact nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net

This month’s edition covers the RDTC’s Climate Emergency declaration, Pill Swallowing – a skill for life, Metolazone preparations and safety considerations, and the second in the series of “Meet the Team” where you can get to know the people behind the work we do. We also cover the Price concessions and the Discount Deduction scheme, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, and a guide to the COVID-19 autumn booster. There is also information on the changes to the Medicines Information Service, and some key medicines availability issues.

Download the October 2022 newsletter here

May 2022 Newsletter

June 1, 2022

Prescribing support newsletters aim to inform readers of work done by the unit and work in progress, to help tailor local work plans and highlight any ‘topical’ issues in prescribing or medicines management.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletter, then please contact nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net

This month’s edition covers how the RDTC can support stakeholder organisations, our recent publications, and the prescribing support workplan. It also has features on post exposure prophylaxis for chickenpox and shingles, the national flu immunisation programme 2022-23, inadvertent oral administration of potassium permanganate, the CVD eLearning programme, WHO changes to the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, and sources of information on menopause and HRT availability.

Download the May 2022 newsletter here

March Newsletter

April 21, 2022

Prescribing support newsletters aim to inform readers of work done by the unit and work in progress, to help tailor local work plans and highlight any ‘topical’ issues in prescribing or medicines management.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletter, then please contact nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net

This month’s edition covers RDTC publications produced in the last financial year, specials added to new Part VIIID section of the Drug Tariff, a spotlight on Hidradenitis suppurativa, the potential contamination of infant formula food products, unintentional paracetamol overdose in adult inpatients with low bodyweight, updates to the routine immunisation schedule, and resources relating to Ramadan.

Download the March newsletter here

Annual Horizon Scanning Report – 2022-2023

February 16, 2022

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.

The RDTC takes the SPS Cost Calculator and aids in filters to calculate totals for each of its stakeholder ICS and CCGs.

A Key Considerations Document accompanies the Cost Calculator  detailing the key messages, summarising the current prescribing budget position, and suggesting proposed uplifts to prescribing budgets for the next financial year.

This is supplemented throughout the year with the RDTC Monthly Horizon Scanning series, which provides a more accurate monthly account of the impact of new medicines and recommendations as they publish.

There are five regional versions of this publication. These can all be found on the Annual Horizon Scanning Report page

January newsletter

February 3, 2022

Prescribing support newsletters aim to inform readers of work done by the unit and work in progress, to help tailor local work plans and highlight any ‘topical’ issues in prescribing or medicines management.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletter, then please contact nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net

This month’s edition covers the use of steroid medication warning cards for children and young people, National Detect, Protect and Perfect programme and choice of DOACs, Primary Care Discussions: Focus on Diabetes, and SPS: New guides for providing medicines advice and/or prescribing in pregnancy. It also continues a series of spotlight articles on one of the types of RDTC stakeholder level report; this month looks at the new Monthly Formulary Amendments report.

Download the January newsletter here

New Monthly Formulary Amendments Documents

January 13, 2022

Monthly Formulary Amendments Documents are a series of new publications from the RDTC for its Stakeholders. These monthly reports list any NICE Technology Appraisals, NICE Guidelines, RMOC Guidance, 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.

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.

These can all be found on the Formulary amendments page

November newsletter

December 14, 2021

Prescribing support newsletters aim to inform readers of work done by the unit and work in progress, to help tailor local work plans and highlight any ‘topical’ issues in prescribing or medicines management.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletter, then please contact nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net

This month’s edition covers the transformation of the SPS, the new SPS Medicines Availability Tool, and SPS publications, discontinuation of the Intal asthma inhaler, and the new NTAG Website. It also continues a series of spotlight articles on one of the types of RDTC stakeholder level report; this month takes a look at Monthly Horizon Scanning Document.

Download the November newsletter here