This is one of a number of bulletins/briefings providing further information on medicines contained in The PrescQIPP DROP-List (DR^{ugs of l}O^w P^riority)

This bulletin will focus on fentanyl immediate-release formulations and provide the rationale for new patients to be commenced on immediate-release morphine, and for current patients to be considered for a switch to immediate-release morphine.

 Bulletin 40 - Fentanyl Version:2.0  

 Bulletin 40 - Fentanyl - Briefing Version:2.0  

This is an update to the quarterly changes to Part VIIIB of the drug tariff (pharmaceutical specials). It lists the new drugs added and those that have been removed from Part VIIIB. Also included is a list of products with the top 10 highest potential savings, based on the cost differences between the solutions and the suspensions or creams and ointments, to assist you in prescribing the most cost-effective form. A more extensive table that helps identify all the significant price differences between forms of drug tariff specials is included in the appendix. A summary of the productivity of opportunity for a period of 12 months has been produced for the Midlands and East area and is also included in the appendix.

The document can be downloaded using the following link:

 Specials Tariff Watch - April 2013 Version:2.0 

Over the next couple of months we will be holding two webinars with Malcolm Qualie, Pharmacy Lead for Specialised Services at NHS England on the 31st May 1pm to 2pm and 28th June 1pm to 2pm.

In the first, Malcolm will be presenting the new changes that will affect Primary and Secondary Care Trusts, followed on by a pre-prepared Q&A. Topics will include CDF, IFRs & Homecare. Due to time constraints and the likely popularity of this webinar we would like to request that for the first webinar questions are provided in advance so that we can schedule these for comment.

In the second, questions received during or after the first webinar will then be covered by Malcolm, or if there are a number around a particular theme there will be a specific focus on that topic.

Please not that if you have not previously attended one of our webinars, it may be worth checking you are able to access the webinar and understand how to join using the following link

http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/gotomeeting/help_files/GTM140010

These webinars are available to CCGs and Trusts in the Midlands and East. Each webinar is limited to 100 places - so it will be first come first serve. However we will be recording the sessions and making them available in the Media section of the website.

Finally, if you have a question you would like to be considered, please enter this in the appropriate box when registering.

You can now sign up for the webinars below:

Webinar 1 - Sign up       Webinar 2 – Sign up

The PrescQIPP DROP List data in the data section of the website has now been updated to February 2013.

The data is available in the data section here.

On Monday 20th May from 12.30pm to 1.30pm we will be holding a webinar on Optimising Safe and Appropriate Medicines Use. 

This will be presented by Katie Smith, Director - East Anglia Medicines Information Service, Ipswich Hospital who will be talking about the rationale and evidence behind the Safe and Appropriate Medicine Use document, as well as Valerie Shaw, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Addenbrooke's Hospital, who will be talking about the importance of this work and its practical implementation within the care home setting.

You can now sign up for the webinar here.