|
|
|
23 April, 2004
Extension to
nurse formulary
The Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency is planning to extend the range of conditions that can
be treated and the Prescription Only Medicines that can be prescribed by
extended formulary nurse prescribers.
Consultation document MLX 303 proposes to
add 11 conditions, including those of the eye and the skin, acute
alcohol withdrawal, poisoning, oral and other infections, and conditions
associated with the central nervous system, circulatory,
gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems, to nurse
prescribers’ extended formulary.
It
also proposes to allow off-label prescribing in palliative care where it
is in the best interests of the patient, and the prescribing of certain
Controlled Drugs, subject to Home Office approval, new POMs and
antimicrobials, as well as new routes of administration for existing
POMs and antimicrobials
Tariff to use dm+d names
From next month the drugs
listed in the Drug Tariff Part VIII will reflect the naming convention
used in the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d).
Products will be displayed as: name,
strength, modification (when present), presentation and ‘freeness’ (eg
sugar-free, gluten-free). Salt form will only be displayed if more than
one clinically significant salt exists in that presentation.
Reimbursement will not be affected if products are prescribed using a
different naming convention.
10
April 2004
Are you ready for the
DDA?
Pharmacies need to review their disability access,
signage and labelling, or face hefty fines under the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), according to printer manufacturer Brother
UK.
The act, which comes into force on October 1 this year, states any
business which provides a service to the public will have to make
‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure the disabled are catered for
properly, or incur fines of up to £50,000.
The DDA protects the rights of the 8.5 million disabled people in the
UK. This includes people who use wheelchairs, blind and partially
sighted people, deaf people, people with arthritis, people with
long-term illnesses and people with learning disabilities.
To ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act, Brother
recommends pharmacies review their premises and whether services are
accessible to disabled people. It also advises ensuring staff training
includes a policy towards disabled people and their legal rights, and
disability awareness and disability etiquette training.
For a free guide to labelling and the DDA, call Brother on 0800 731
0669.
Dispensing
doctors take note!
Drug
interaction concern
A potentially dangerous interaction between an antidepressant and a
muscle relaxant has been identified by researchers in
Finland
.
Faverin
(fluvoxamine) dramatically increases the blood concentration of Zanaflex
(tizanidine) by on average 33 times. This can result in a severe and
prolonged fall in blood pressure and enhanced CNS effects, the
Helsinki
University
researchers found
Pharmacy control of entry - latest
The Government has pledged to increase the
choice of where, when and how patients get medicines - including freeing
some restrictions on pharmacy openings.
“We
propose to make it easier for new pharmacies to locate in areas where
consumers already go, for example in large shopping developments, and to
make it easier for pharmacies to open if they intend to be open for more
than 100 hours a week,” says the Department of Health in its response
to the Building on the best - choice, responsiveness and equity
consultation.
Pharmacy contractors adversely affected
by Government plans to increase competition in the sector may not back
the new pharmacy contract, NPA chief executive John D’Arcy has warned.
Contractors’ commitment to accepting
funding under the new pharmacy contract is directly linked to what
happens with control of entry, Mr D’Arcy said, adding that if changes
were unreasonable it would “be reflected quite naturally in
contractors’ attitude to the new contract”.
|
|
