The therapeutic sections of this Formulary are based on the classification system used in the British National Formulary. The drugs in the list have been chosen on the basis of proven efficacy, known side-effect profiles and current local practice. Wherever possible, the list is intended to promote the most cost-effective use of resources.
In some therapeutic sections, no list of drugs or guidance is produced. This is either because this is considered a highly specialist area or because no policy has yet been submitted to the Medicines Management Committee for this section. There should be fewer missing sections with each new edition of the Formulary.
Preparations included in the Formulary are divided into two categories:
1. Full formulary status
These are available for prescription by all medical staff and marked with an F in the listings.
2. Restricted status
Use of these preparations is restricted to particular departments or individual consultants. This is either because the drug is a particularly high-cost item, or has serious side-effects associated with it or because clinical experience is limited at present. These items are marked with an R and wherever possible guidance on the restricted status is included.
Supply of drugs on admission to hospital
For patients whose current medication includes a non-formulary drug, treatment will be continued particularly if it has been established for a long period. In other cases, pharmacists may suggest an alternative from the formulary.
A scheme which allows patients to self-medicate and to use their own drugs (PODS) whilst they are inpatients helps to minimise wastage, reduce delays on discharge and encourages patients to take responsibility for their medicines. The majority of wards operate this scheme.
Trust Medicines Policy
This formulary should be used in conjunction with the 'Trust Medicines Policy', which describes how medicines should be prescribed, dispensed, stored, administered and disposed of. The policy is available on the Trust Intranet.