Format of the Formulary - Plymouth Area Joint Formulary

• Home
• Chapters
  • 1. Gastro–Intestinal System
  • 2. Cardiovascular System
  • 3. Respiratory System
  • 4. Central Nervous System
  • 5. Infections
  • 6. Endocrine System
  • 7. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Urinary–tract Disorders
  • 8. Malignant Disease and Immunossuppression
  • 9. Nutrition and Blood
  • 10. Musculoskeletal and Joint Diseases
  • 11. Eye
  • 12. Ear, Nose and Oropharynx
  • 13. Skin
  • 14. Immunological Products and Vaccines
  • 15. Anaesthesia
  • 16. Palliative Care Guidelines
  • 17 Wound Management
  • 18. Dental Prescribing
  • 19. Miscellaneous Preparations
  • 20. Shared Care Information
  • 21. Continence Formulary
• Drugs
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
• About the Formulary and Local Decisions
  • Local Decisions about Drugs and Treatments
  • SW Peninsula Health Technology Commissioning Group
  • Joint Formulary Committee
  • Producing a Joint Formulary
  • Shared care Information
  • PHNT Drugs & Therapeutics Committee Minutes
• Newsletters
• Current Chapter Reviews
• Patient Information Leaflets
• General Prescribing Info
• GP System Formulary Downloads
• Useful Links
• Contact Us

Format of the Formulary

The Joint Formulary is arranged in BNF order. It consists of a list of drugs recommended in each section. Each drug is categorised to facilitate prescribing choice.

The prescriber should always ensure they have the expertise to prescribe an agent before making the selection. In its guidelines on responsibility for prescribing between hospitals and general practitioners, the Department of Health has advised that legal responsibility for prescribing lies with the doctor who signs the prescription.

First line drugs - These drugs are recommended as first line agents and may be initiated in both primary and secondary care.

Second line drugs - These drugs are included as alternatives (often in specific conditions) and may be initiated in both primary and secondary care.

Specialist drugs - These are drugs where a specialist input is needed. A specialist is not exclusively a consultant, rather someone with recognised skills (eg. GP with a Specialist Interest, Community Psychiatric Nurse, Microbiologist Culture and Sensitivity report, Tissue Viability Nurse). For example, drugs will be ‘orange' when:

• A specialist starts treatment.
• A specialist provides advice for a specific patient.
• Prescribing is in accordance with specific guidelines developed either included or referenced in the formulary.

Secondary care drugs - Prescribing principally within secondary care

Further information and guidelines may be provided to help prescribers in notes following the drug entry or as appendices. Key information from National Service Frameworks (NSF) and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines have also been included.

In addition, the following symbols are also used throughout the formulary to assist prescribers:

• CD Controlled Drug 
• N Preparations than can be prescribed by Community Practitioner Nurses who have completed the necessary training.
  
• ACBS  Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances.
• SLS Selective List Scheme, for drugs restricted to prescribing under the NHS in certain conditions. The prescriptions for these items need to be endorsed by the prescriber with ‘SLS'.

Last updated by: Carol Webb on 18-10-2012 10:58