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Formulary
What does Formulary mean?
Examples of how to use the golf term Albatross
- Regularly review and update the formulary to reflect current evidence and national guidelines
- Include clear guidance on first-line treatments and therapeutic alternatives
- Establish transparent processes for adding or removing medications from the formulary
- Provide accessible digital versions to ensure all prescribers can reference it easily
- Maintain alignment with local hospital formularies to ensure continuity of care
Examples of how to use the golf term Albatross
- The local formulary recommends metformin as the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes in primary care.
- GPs should consult the PCN formulary before prescribing to ensure compliance with local guidelines and cost-effectiveness.
- The clinical pharmacist reviewed the formulary to identify more affordable alternatives to high-cost medications.
What does Formulary mean?
A formulary is an approved list of medications that healthcare professionals within a primary care network are recommended to prescribe. It includes information on approved drugs, their indications, dosages, and any prescribing restrictions. Formularies help to standardise prescribing practices, ensure cost-effectiveness, and promote evidence-based medicine.
Why do Primary Care Networks use formularies?
Primary Care Networks use formularies to promote consistent, high-quality, and cost-effective prescribing across member practices. Formularies help PCNs reduce unwarranted variation in prescribing, incorporate national guidance into local practice, contain medication costs, and ensure patient safety. They also support prescribers in making evidence-based decisions and facilitate easier integration with wider NHS systems.
How are medications selected for inclusion in a formulary?
Medications are selected for a formulary through a systematic process typically overseen by a medicines management committee. The selection criteria include clinical effectiveness (based on robust evidence), safety profile, cost-effectiveness compared to alternatives, alignment with NICE guidance, patient factors (such as ease of use), and local population needs. The process often involves input from GPs, pharmacists, specialists, and occasionally patient representatives.
What is the difference between local and national formularies?
National formularies, like the British National Formulary (BNF), provide comprehensive information on all licensed medications in the UK. Local formularies, developed by PCNs or Clinical Commissioning Groups, are tailored lists of preferred medications for specific populations. Local formularies consider regional factors such as local disease prevalence, existing prescribing patterns, specialist service availability, and area-specific budgetary constraints, creating more contextually relevant guidance for local prescribers.
How do electronic formularies improve prescribing in primary care?
Electronic formularies improve prescribing by integrating with clinical systems to provide real-time guidance during consultations. They offer instant access to up-to-date prescribing information, automate alerts for contraindications or interactions, simplify selection of approved medications, reduce prescribing errors, and facilitate audit and monitoring of prescribing patterns. This technology supports clinicians in making safer, more consistent, and cost-effective prescribing decisions at the point of care.
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