The formulary is published in BNF chapters. It comprises a list of drugs recommended in each section. Each drug is categorised to facilitate prescribing choice.
The prescriber should always ensure they have the expertise to prescribe an agent before making the selection. In its guidelines on responsibility for prescribing between hospitals and general practitioners, the Department of Health has advised that legal responsibility for prescribing lies with the doctor who signs the prescription. Please refer to HEMC Principles of Shared Care document.
First line drugs - These drugs are recommended as first line agents and may be initiated in both primary and secondary care.
Second line drugs - These drugs are included as alternatives and may be initiated in both primary and secondary care.
Specialist drugs - These are drugs where the need for specialist input has been identified. A specialist is not necessarily a consultant, rather a practitioner with specialist skills e.g. GP with Specialist Interest, Community Psychiatric Nurse, Tissue Viability Nurse.
Drugs will have “orange” status when:
Hospital only drugs - These drugs will only be prescribed within secondary care.
Various pieces of additional guidance may be provided to help prescribers in notes following the drug entry, as appendices or as separate documents under the BNF chapter heading. Key information from National Service Frameworks and National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines has been included.
