News summary

Historically across the NENC ICB area there are three formularies in place that were operated by the three Area Prescribing Committees (APCs) of County Durham & Tees Valley; North of Tyne, Gateshead & North Cumbria; and South Tyneside & Sunderland.

As part of the move to a single ICB wide formulary a working group was formed with the agreement of the NENC Medicines Committee to explore merging the three existing formularies into one NENC formulary.

A consultation has now been opened on the resulting RAG definitions, and proposed RAG statuses. To take part, visit the consultations page.

The ongoing consultation on draft menopause guidance has been updated to reflect new evidence on HRT after surgery for endometriosis. The updated draft is available by visiting the consultations page.

The decisions made at the NENC Medicines Subcommittee April 2023 meeting can now be found at: https://ntag.nhs.uk/meetings/decision-summaries/

This includes the recommendations made by NTAG in March 2023 meeting and NICE Technology appraisals from the 1st January 2023 to 31st January 2023.

The following guidelines/position statements were approved and can be found at:
• NENC regional guidance On SGLT2 inhibitors – supersedes previous versions for CKD, heart failure and type 2 diabetes
https://ntag.nhs.uk/recommendations/endocrine-system-recommendations/

• NENC ICB position statement – nonpalliative care use of opiates
https://ntag.nhs.uk/recommendations/central-nervous-system-recommendations/

Drugs with a NICE recommendation published in February and March 2023 have been considered by NTAG in its May meeting, and will be considered for approval by Medicines Subcommittee at its June 2023 meeting.

All approved NENC Medicines Subcommittee and NTAG meeting minutes can be found at: https://ntag.nhs.uk/meetings/ntag-meetings/ and https://ntag.nhs.uk/meetings/nenc-medicines-committee-meetings/

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Committee are seeking NENC system-wide views on implementation of NICE TA888: Risankizumab for previously treated moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease, as outlined in the consultation document.

Comments are welcomed from across the system, including residents and patients of the NENC. Comments will be returned to the medicines committee, or its sub-committee, and used to inform implementation of the decisions in NENC.

This consultation will run for four weeks and closes at 5pm on Wednesday 14th June 2023. Take part by visiting the consultations page.

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Committee are seeking NENC system-wide views on adoption of the formulary actions proposed at the May meeting of NTAG; see the attached consultation document.

Comments are welcomed from across the system, including residents and patients of the NENC. Comments will be returned to the medicines committee, or its sub-committee, and used to inform implementation of the decisions in NENC.

This consultation will run for four weeks and closes at 5pm on Tuesday 13th June 2023. Take part by visiting the consultations page.

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Committee are seeking NENC system-wide views on adoption of the proposed menopause guidance in a new consultation.

Comments are welcomed from across the system, including residents and patients of the NENC. Comments will be returned to the medicines committee, or its sub-committee, and used to inform implementation of the decisions in NENC.

This consultation will run for four weeks and closes at 5pm on Tuesday 13th June 2023. Take part by visiting the consultations page.

Update, 24th May: the draft guideline has been updated to reflect new evidence on HRT after surgery for endometriosis. The updated draft is available at the link above.

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Committee are seeking NENC system-wide views on adoption of a draft guideline for management of osteoporosis in primary care.

Comments are welcomed from across the system, including residents and patients of the NENC. Comments will be returned to the medicines committee, or its sub-committee, and used to inform implementation of the decisions in NENC.

The consultation is open until 5pm on Tuesday 13th June 2023 and can be accessed at https://ntag.nhs.uk/consultations/. 

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Committee are seeking NENC system-wide views on adoption of the proposed formulary amendments in a new consultation.

Comments are welcomed from across the system, including residents and patients of the NENC. Comments will be returned to the medicines committee, or its sub-committee, and used to inform implementation of the decisions in NENC.

This consultation will run for four weeks and closes at 5pm on Friday 2nd June 2023. Take part by visiting the consultations page.

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Committee are seeking NENC system-wide views on adoption of two shared care protocols:

• Amiodarone
• Sativex

Comments are welcomed from across the system, including residents and patients of the NENC. Comments will be returned to the medicines committee, or its sub-committee, and used to inform implementation of the shared care protocols in NENC.

The consultations are open until 5pm on Sunday 30^th April 2023 and can be accessed at https://ntag.nhs.uk/consultations/.  

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Committee are seeking NENC system-wide views on adoption of the proposed formulary amendments in a new consultation.

Comments are welcomed from across the system, including residents and patients of the NENC. Comments will be returned to the medicines committee, or its sub-committee, and used to inform implementation of the decisions in NENC.

This consultation will run for four weeks and closes at 5pm on Tuesday 4th April 2023. Take part by visiting the consultations page.