Medicines & prescribing information

We use an evidence based approach to choosing prescription products which balances the safety, effectiveness, value and ease of use. When decisions are made the discussions involve GPs, Consultants, Pharmacists and Patients, and the governance for this falls under the Medicines Optimisation Board (MOB). The MOB will review new medicine applications, formulary and traffic light status. Sometimes the decisions can be difficult and we have to make recommendations that involve changes to treatments or focusing their use only to those who with benefit most but the overall aim is to get the biggest improvement in health for the most people with the resources that we have.

The list below gives you some examples of things that come under Medicines Optimisation – although there are many more:

• Supporting patients and health professionals to make joint decisions about the best treatment for the individual,
• Giving health professionals unbiased information on new and existing medicines,
• Helping avoid harms or side-effects that can be caused by medicines,
• Developing guidelines to ensure conditions are managed as well as they can be,
• Reducing wasted medicines,
• Communicating with hospitals and community pharmacies.

Overall, our aim is to improve the health of the local population by promoting safe, effective and efficient use of medicines.