Medicines and prescribing
Background
LINk representative, Pat Bottrill, informed the July 2010 meeting of the LINk Board that Patient’s Voice has been collecting anecdotal evidence on dispensing difficulties regarding the same medication being dispensed in different formats and the difficulties this can create for patients.
LINK researched the issue and discovered that when a doctor is writing a prescription, or a consumer is buying an over-the-counter medicine, they may have a choice between a branded medicine and the generic version of that medicine. Generic medicines are sometimes cheaper than brand-name medicines, but the active ingredient (the ingredient that produces the therapeutic effect of the medicine) is the same in both. See our presentation on generic medicines
LINk Board gave approval to investigate the issue further. A meeting was held with Patients Voice for members to express their concerns. LINk shared their findings with Sam Harrison, Head of Involvement at NHS North of Tyne, and a further meeting was held in January with the Pharmacy Team. Representatives from North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland LINks are invited to future medicines management meetings. The last meeting looked at a pharmacy leaflet which was revised from a patient perspective.
Current LINk activity
Representatives from North Tyneside LINk will continue to attend the regular medicines management meetings arranged by NHS North of Tyne and feed back to LINk members.
Many of the issues raised about generic medicines are national issues. The LINk Board has agreed this limits the influence LINk can have in bringing about change and future involvment will be through the medicines management meetings or in response to new issues.
News from NHS North of Tyne
Why your prescription may change from colour-coated tablets to uncoated tablets
NHS North of Tyne has decided to stop the prescription of colour-coated prednisolone tablets (called prednisolone enteric coated
or EC). This is because the plain non-coated prednisolone tablets contain the same active ingredient and have the same effect as the colour-coated tablets but cost less to the NHS. When you get a new prescription you should continue to take the tablets in the same way as you did before unless your GP tells you otherwise. You should not experience any adverse reaction to this change - but contact your GP is you have any concerns or questions.
Glucosamine no longer to be prescribed for osteoarthritis
Glucosamine is a natural component of cartilage which is found in the joints between your bones. You will no longer be prescribed glucosamine by your GP as there is no clinical evidence to show that it works as a treatment for osteoarthritis.
You may still buy glucosamine over the counter from community pharmacies, health food shops and supermarkets. The quality of these food suplements can vary as there are no statutory regulations about their purity and content. You should get medical advice before taking over-the-counter glucosamine.
Current national activity
The Department of Health (DH) has recently published its response to the consultation to implement ‘generic substitution’ in primary care. The DH had hoped to implement generic substitution which would have enabled pharmacists and other dispensers to fulfil a prescription for a branded medicine by an equivalent generic medicine. Read DH response to the consultation document
However, following on from public consultation the DH will not be progressing any further with the implementation of generic substitution. Instead it will be looking at other ways to support the use of generic medicines in a way that is ‘acceptable to patients’.
The Department of Health asked for views on a new value-based approach to pricing of branded medicines. Consultation closed on 17 March 2011.
For more information contact Alison Chalmers on 0191 643 2624 or email alison.chalmers@voda.org.uk