Formulary
Coronavirus guidance
Guidance to support primary care prescribers and pharmacists is available from the MLCSU Coronavirus guidance resource page. Links are provided to national resources and regional documents produced by MLCSU, RDTC, and SPS for use by Pan Mersey APC, LSCMMG, and GMMMG.
The list of resources will be updated as new material becomes available so please check back regularly for updates.
The Pan Mersey APC supports the use of COVID-specific guidance issued by NICE, and NHS England and NHS Improvement. During the COVID pandemic this will supersede any APC advice.
Web based formulary
Smartphone formulary app
Definitions and Criteria for Categorisation of Medicines
Further information regarding the process for review and categorisation, including devices, can be found in the Policy for the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee.
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.
- 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 by the specialist.
- 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 by the specialist. Patient remains under the care of specialist (ie not discharged) as occasional specialist input may be required.
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.
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.
BLACK Medicines not recommended for use because of lack of evidence of clinical effectiveness, cost prioritisation or concerns over safety.
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.
Online formulary chapters
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Meningitis
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Genital Tract Infections
- Skin Infections
- Eye infections
- Suspected dental infections in primary care (outside dental settings)
- Treatment of Splenectomy Patients
- Sampling guidance (Liverpool Clinical Laboratories)
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.