Formulary
Definitions and Criteria for Categorisation of Medicines
Reviews of the new medicines have been conducted by our pharmacists using a number of resources including National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) which is a Special health Authority (SHA) set up in 1999. It is used to give advice to the NHS on best clinical practice including the clinical and cost effectiveness of drugs and other treatments.
Definitions and Criteria for Categorisation of Medicines
Key to recommendations
RED Drugs which should be prescribed only by a specialist clinician.
Amber medicines are considered suitable for primary care prescribing following varied levels of specialist input as described below:
AMBER Recommended requires specialist assessment and recommendation to GP to prescribe in Primary Care.
AMBER Initiated requires specialist initiation of prescribing. Prescribing to be continued by the specialist until stabilisation of the dose and the patient’s condition is achieved and the patient has been reviewed.
AMBER Patient Retained requires specialist initiation of prescribing. Prescribing to be continued by specialist until stabilisation of the dose and the patient’s condition is achieved and the patient had been reviewed. Patient remains under the care of specialist (ie not discharged) as occasional specialist input may be required.
GREEN Medicines for which primary care prescribers would normally take full responsibility for prescribing and monitoring. Green status does not imply that a medicine is superior to existing first-line drugs or is a recommended formulary choice.
PURPLE Medicines are considered suitable for Primary Care prescribing and/or management, following specialist initiation of therapy, with on-going communication between the Primary Care prescriber and specialist, within the framework of a Shared Care Agreement.
BLACK Medicines not recommended for use because of lack of evidence of clinical effectiveness, cost prioritisation or concerns over safety.
GREY These medicines are still being evaluated according to local processes and a decision on whether to commission their use has not yet been made. They should not be prescribed in any setting.
Management of Common Infections in Primary Care
Introduction (updated for 2018) pdf view
Laboratory Sensitivity Reports (updated for 2018) pdf view
Penicillin Allergy (updated for 2018) pdf view
Advice on Prescribing in Pregnancy (updated for 2018) pdf view
Clostridium difficile Infection (updated for 2018) pdf view
MRSA Bacteraemia (updated for 2018) pdf view
Eye Infections (updated for 2018) pdf view
Ear, Nose and Throat Infections (updated for 2018) pdf view
Respiratory Tract Infections (updated for 2018) pdf view
Gastrointestinal Infections (updated for 2018) pdf view
Genital Tract Infections (updated for 2018) pdf view
Treatment Of Splenectomy Patients
Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT)
Formulary adherence to NICE TAs about medicines
Cost comparison charts
Cost comparison charts
The Regional Drugs and Therapeutics Centre (RDTC) is a non commercial, not for profit NHS organisation hosted by the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust.
Established in 1991 the multi-disciplinary team, comprising of pharmacists, physicians, scientists and support staff aim to promote the safe, effective and economical use of medicines within the NHS across the North of England through the provision of high quality information and expert advice.