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Please click below to download application form for addition or amendments to North East and North Cumbria (NENC) ICS Formulary

Application Form

Local Guidelines and Information Leaflets
County Durham  and Darlington	North Cumbria	North of Tyne, Gateshead and North Cumbria	South Tyneside and Sunderland	Tees
Useful Links
North East and North Cumbria ICS	NTAG	RDTC (login required)	NICE	CKS
SPS	Medicine Supply Tool (login required)	BNF & BNFC	Drug Tariff	Open Prescribing
MHRA Drug Safety Updates (https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update)
Drug Safety Update - March 2024
Drug Safety Update - February 2024
Drug Safety Update - January 2024
Drug Safety Update - December 2023
Drug Safety Update - November 2023
Drug Safety Update - October 2023
Drug Safety Update - September 2023
Drug Safety Update - August 2023
Drug Safety Update - July 2023
Drug Safety Update - June 2023
Drug Safety Update - May 2023
Drug Safety Update - April 2023

A formulary is only as good as the guidelines which underpin it. It is essential that this formulary is used in conjunction with the current guidelines. Throughout this formulary links to NICE and local guidelines are provided. This guidance should be read before selecting a drug from this formulary.

It is recognised that we cannot expect 100% compliance. This formulary will only cover 80-90% of what may be needed for individual patients. This formulary is expected to cover the majority of occasions but in exceptional circumstances both parties may agree to work outside of this guidance. Where necessary, secondary and primary care prescribers should discuss the appropriate management of individual patients personally.

 The contents of the formulary are supported by:

• NENC North East and North Cumbria ICB
• County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
• Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
• Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• North Cumbria University Hospital NHS Trust
• North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
• Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
• Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust

 The formulary is intended to:

• encourage safe, effective and economical prescribing
• enable safe and effective transfer of prescribing from secondary to primary care
• facilitate continuity of treatment and minimise supply problems.

 It is not intended to be a comprehensive prescribing guide or to replace the BNF or BNF for children.

 Medicines are listed in chapters and subsections that generally correspond with those in the legacy BNF .

 Where appropriate the formulary gives information as to which drugs are regarded as being the first choice and alternatives. Where no ranking of drugs is stated, products are listed alphabetically.

 For hospital prescribers please note that not all formulary approved medicines will be available for prescribing and use in all organisations due to differences in commissioned services and stock holding or preferences in each organisation. Please consultant Pharmacy within your organisation.

Does the ICS single formulary cover every medication?

The formulary is comprehensive but will not cover every medicine in every situation.  Some patients may already be stabilised on non-formulary medications and it is not intended for these patients to be changed to formulary choices unless appropriate to do so. Whilst the formulary aims to standardise practice it is recognised that individual patients may require medicines which lie outside this guidance.

What if I feel the entry in the ICS single formulary is not correct?

Historically across the NENC ICS area there were three formularies and now there is a single ICS-wide formulary. There has been wide consultation on the new ICS Single formulary which was put together by team of stakeholders from across the NENC and based on an harmonisation exercise undertaken over the past 12 months comparing the three previous formularies in the NENC and reaching a consensus where there was a difference.

With merger of three formularies, the ICS has tried to ensure links and vital clinical information is not lost from entries in the formulary.  However, if you feel that an entry is not correct please email the Regional Drug and therapeutics Centre nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net  The RDTC is being used as a central point to collate any feedback to pass on to the relevant group within the ICB for action and is not responsible for the formulary.

Process for formulary applications for ICS for NENC ICS

• All formulary applications or amendments from partner organisations in the NENC ICS should be submitted via nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net for consideration at the Formulary Working Group.