netFormulary NHS
North East and North Cumbria
ICS Formulary
 Introduction
Welcome to the Shared Formulary for the North East / North Cumbria Integrated Care System

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Please click below to download application form for addition or
amendments to North East and North Cumbria (NENC) ICS Formulary

Application Form

Local Guidelines and Information Leaflets

County Durham  and Darlington North Cumbria North of Tyne, Gateshead and North Cumbria South Tyneside and Sunderland Tees

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North East and North Cumbria ICS NTAG RDTC
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 Last updated: 27th March 2024

Formulary Amendments
Chapter Change Reason for change
02.15 Empagliflozin for the treatment of chronic heart failure with preserved or midly reduced ejection fraction NICE TA929
05.01 Addition of link to NENC Penicillin Allergy Assessment primary care for adult patients NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
13.04 Removal of Betnovate N cream NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
01.04.02 Removal of loperamide oral liquid and amended wording for orodispersible  NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
01.05.01 Shared care guideline link added to sulfasalazine NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
01.06.07 Addition of chronic constipation in men as an approved indication for prucalopride NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
02.02.01 Removal of treatment to be initiaited by cardiology NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
02.02.03 Addition of prescribing guideline for finerenone NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
02.03.02 Shared care guideline link amended for amiodarone NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
02.03.02 Shared care guideline link amended for dronedarone NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
02.08.01 Removal of local guidance for low molecular weight heparins NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
02.08.02 Removal of Tees Valley Warfarin guidelines for primary care NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
02.08.02 Removal of NENC DOAC decision support table NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
03.04.01 Promethazine changed from alternative to second choice NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval
04.01.01 Addition of daridorexant for the treatment of long-term insomnia NENC Medicines Subcommittee & NICE TA922
04.03.03 Addition of sertraline 100mg/5ml concentrate for oral solution  NENC Medicines Committee approval
04.07.02 Addition of fentanyl nasal spray for use by children NENC Medicines Committee Approval
04.07.02 Addition of morphie sulfate (MST) 5mg tablets NENC Medicines Committee Approval
04.07.04.02 Addition of rimegepant for treating migraine NICE TA919
04.09.01 Foslevidopa/foscarbidopa for the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s with motor symptoms in adults NICE TA934
04.09.01 Opicapone changed to 1st choice  NENC Medicines Committee Approval
04.09.01 Bromocriptine - County Durham and Tees Valley shared care guideline removed NENC Medicines Committee Approval
04.09.03 Link to riluzole shared care guideline added and formulation changed from orodispersible tablet to orodispersible film NENC Medicines Committee Approval
06.01.02.01 Removal of gliclazide MR tablets for new patients NENC Medicines Committee Approval
06.01.02.03 Semaglutide (Wegovy). Changed from Brown to Red NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval & NICE TA875
06.01.02.03 Addition of tirzepatide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes  NENC Medicines Subcommittee Approval & NICE TA924
06.06.02 Denosumab - changed from Green plus to Amber.  NENC Medicines Committee Approval
08.01.05 Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide (Lutathera) for treating unresectable or metastatic neuroendocrine tumours in adults NICE TA930
08.01.05 Tisagenlecleucel for treating relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in adults after 2 or more systemic therapies. Moved from approved to Non-Formulary NICE TA933
08.01.05 Idecabtagene vicleucel for treating relapsed and frefractory multuiple myeloma after 3 or more treatments. Added to non-formulary NICE TA936
09.05.02.02 Sevelamer and lanthanum changed from Red to Green Plus NENC Medicines Committee Approval
09.08.01 Pegunigalsidase alfa for treating Fabry disease NICE TA915 & NHSE SSC2600
10.01.01 Celecoxib changed from Green Plus to Green NENC Medicines Committee Approval
11.03.03 Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel changed to 1st choice.  NENC Medicines Committee Approval
12.03.01 Caphosol and Gelclair changed from Red to Green Plus NENC Medicines Committee Approval
13.05.03 Baricitinib for treating severe alopecia areata (Not recommended) NICE TA926
15.01.02 Removal of desflurane NENC Medicines Committee Approval
About page Addition of position statement on the prescribing of branded generic medicines NENC Medicines Committee Approval

A formulary is only as good as the guidelines which underpin it. It is essential that this formulary is used in conjunction with the current guidelines. Throughout this formulary links to NICE and local guidelines are provided. This guidance should be read before selecting a drug from this formulary.

It is recognised that we cannot expect 100% compliance. This formulary will only cover 80-90% of what may be needed for individual patients. This formulary is expected to cover the majority of occasions but in exceptional circumstances both parties may agree to work outside of this guidance. Where necessary, secondary and primary care prescribers should discuss the appropriate management of individual patients personally.

 The contents of the formulary are supported by:

  • NENC North East and North Cumbria ICB
  • County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
  • Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
  • Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • North Cumbria University Hospital NHS Trust
  • North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
  • Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust

 The formulary is intended to:

  • encourage safe, effective and economical prescribing
  • enable safe and effective transfer of prescribing from secondary to primary care
  • facilitate continuity of treatment and minimise supply problems.

 It is not intended to be a comprehensive prescribing guide or to replace the BNF or BNF for children.

 Medicines are listed in chapters and subsections that generally correspond with those in the legacy BNF .

 Where appropriate the formulary gives information as to which drugs are regarded as being the first choice and alternatives. Where no ranking of drugs is stated, products are listed alphabetically.

 For hospital prescribers please note that not all formulary approved medicines will be available for prescribing and use in all organisations due to differences in commissioned services and stock holding or preferences in each organisation. Please consultant Pharmacy within your organisation.

Does the ICS single formulary cover every medication?

The formulary is comprehensive but will not cover every medicine in every situation.  Some patients may already be stabilised on non-formulary medications and it is not intended for these patients to be changed to formulary choices unless appropriate to do so. Whilst the formulary aims to standardise practice it is recognised that individual patients may require medicines which lie outside this guidance.

What if I feel the entry in the ICS single formulary is not correct?

Historically across the NENC ICS area there were three formularies and now there is a single ICS-wide formulary. There has been wide consultation on the new ICS Single formulary which was put together by team of stakeholders from across the NENC and based on an harmonisation exercise undertaken over the past 12 months comparing the three previous formularies in the NENC and reaching a consensus where there was a difference.

With merger of three formularies, the ICS has tried to ensure links and vital clinical information is not lost from entries in the formulary.  However, if you feel that an entry is not correct please email the Regional Drug and therapeutics Centre nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net  The RDTC is being used as a central point to collate any feedback to pass on to the relevant group within the ICB for action and is not responsible for the formulary.

Process for formulary applications for ICS for NENC ICS

  • All formulary applications or amendments from partner organisations in the NENC ICS should be submitted via nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net for consideration at the Formulary Working Group.

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