Items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: an update
From NHS England.
NHS England Consultation – Items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: an update and a consultation on further guidance for CCGs (Closing 28 February 2019)
Last year, the NHS recommended to CCGs items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care. As a result, a number of items are no longer routinely prescribed in primary care. In this consultation NHS England is seeking views on the updated guidance for CCGs and on additional items to be added to the list of medicines and products that should not be routinely prescribed. Items being consulted on include:
- ALISKIREN – This medicine is usually prescribed on its own or together with other medicines to lower high blood pressure.
Recommendations:
- That aliskiren should not be prescribed to new patients.
- That patients who are prescribed aliskiren will be supported to start using different medicines instead.
- AMIODARONE – Amiodarone is a medicine used to treat and prevent a number of medical conditions that give you irregular heartbeats.
Recommendations:
- That amiodarone should not be prescribed to new patients.
- That amiodarone should be prescribed only by a specialist and in cases when other treatment cannot be used or didn’t work.
- BATH AND SHOWER PREPARATIONS FOR DRY AND PRURITIC SKIN CONDITIONS – There are some products like shower gels and soaps that are prescribed to patients to soothe itchy and very dry skin, like when you have eczema.
Recommendations:
- That such gels and soaps should not be prescribed to new patients.
- Patients who get these gels and soaps on prescription at the moment will be supported to start using leave-on lotions instead.
- BLOOD GLUCOSE TESTING STRIPS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES – Patients with type 2 diabetes may need to monitor their glucose level. Some use a special machine called a Blood Glucose Tester. This machine uses special strips of plastic or paper. You prick your finger with a special needle to get a drop of blood, put this on a strip and put it in the machine.
Recommendations:
- That test strips which cost more than 10 pounds for a pack of 50 are not prescribed for new patients.
- Patients who are being prescribed more expensive strips will be supported to start using test strips that cost under 10 pounds for a set of 50.
- NEEDLES FOR PRE-FILLED AND REUSABLE INSULIN PENS
Recommendation:
- That insulin pen needles costing over 5 pounds for a pack of 100 should not be prescribed to new diabetes patients.
- DRONEDARONE – is a medicine used to keep the heartbeat normal in patients who cannot have other treatments or medicines for this.
Recommendations:
- That dronedarone should not be prescribed for new patients.
- That dronedarone should be prescribed only by a specialist and in very special cases, for example when other treatment cannot be used or didn’t work.
- MINOCYCLINE FOR ACNE – is a type of antibiotic that can be used for many things, but is usually used by primary care to treat acne.
Recommendations:
- That minocycline should not be prescribed for new patients.
- That patients who are prescribed minocycline will be supported to use different medicines.
- SILK GARMENTS – are special clothes made out of medical silk which are prescribed to patients who have very bad eczema or allergic reactions on their skin.
Recommendations:
- That silk garments should not be prescribed to new patients.
- Patients should not be prescribed silk garments anymore, and that they are supported in this change.
During the consultation period a range of events, including face to face events and webinars (online meetings) will be undertaken to gather feedback on the proposals – you can register for these here:
Face to face consultation meetings
- London:5th February 2019, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Booking can be made here.
- Birmingham:11th Feb 2019, 11:00am – 1:00pm: Booking can be made here.
Webinar (online meetings)
- 14 February 2019, 1:00 – 2:00pm: Booking can be made here.
Related documents
https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/items-routinely-prescribed-update/
For easy read consultation document: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/items-routinely-prescribed-update/user_uploads/prescribing-gluten-free-foods-primary-care-easy-read-consultation.pdf
For consultation document: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/items-routinely-prescribed-update/user_uploads/low-priority-prescribing-consultation-guidance.pdf