NPC

The NPC have published five guiding principles based on good prescribing practice that highlight specific issues to support prescribers in the safe and appropriate use of Specials. The principles are:

    Prescribers should be aware when they are prescribing a Special, or asking another professional to administer one. In general, Specials should only be prescribed when the patient has an individual clinical need that cannot be met by a licensed medicine of established efficacy, quality and stability.
    The risks and benefits of using a Special will differ for different patient groups, different medicines and in individual clinical circumstances. Prescribers need to take into account the safety, effectiveness, quality and cost of all the options available to patients.
                                                         
    Prescribers should discuss treatment options with patients and carers, and ensure that they are aware of the implications and practicalities of each option.
    Prescribers should understand the rationale for using a Special and the practical implications of prescribing before initiating, transferring, or taking over responsibility for prescribing.
    Prescribers should have systems in place to ensure the need for the Special is regularly reviewed, both in terms of the continued need for a Special product and in the context of the need for a medicine overall.

The guidance encourages prescribers to seek support from community pharmacists about the prescribing of specific medicines. The guidance can be downloaded in full from the NPC website.

This follows last year’s publication of professional guidance by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. More recently, the Society have published guidance on crushing tablets and opening capsules. The Society’s guidance can be found on their website (RPS Members Only).