Specialist Medicines
NHS England has extended the Enhanced Service for the Availability of Specialist Medicines until 31st March 2023 for BNSSG, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. The pharmacies providing this service can be found here (https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/01/2022-2023-Specialist-Medicines-Enhanced-Service-Providers.pdf)
By agreeing to provide the Specialist Medicines Enhanced Service, the participating pharmacies are required to ensure that the medicines as listed on https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/01/2022-2023-Specialist-Medicines-Enhanced-Service-drug-list-updated-January-2023-.pdf are available at all times during their contracted opening hours and on any bank or public holidays on which they open.
The list of drugs has been reviewed following the publication of the 2022/2023 Pharmacy Quality Scheme so some of the drugs that participating pharmacies are required to hold are slightly different to previous years. The list is a basic list of medication designed to meet the urgent needs of patients and is not a substitute for forward planning in end of life care. In an urgent situation we would suggest that prescribers contact their nearest participating pharmacy and write a prescription knowing what they have in stock.
If you become aware of any problems experienced by patients or healthcare professions obtaining any of the listed medicines, or have any comments about the service, please contact me via england.pharmacysouthwest@nhs.net
Note to pharmacies providing the Specialist Medicines Enhanced Service
The attached drug list has been updated since we issued it to yourselves in December. The changes are:
- Vancomycin is now included on the core list of drugs to be held by all participating pharmacies
- Ertapenem has been removed from the BNSSG list
Service Specification
