DERMATOLOGY

Context The Medicines Management Team implemented a project to:

• Optimise the prescribing of emollients in line with the emollient formulary • Review the prescribing of topical steroids for patients with psoriasis.

What we did

A review of patient records was undertaken with recommendations made to the practice. The following resources were used to support the project:

Audit

An audit tool was developed for practices:

• To identify and review the duration of treatment with a topical vitamin D

analogue/ corticosteroid preparation for patients with psoriasis and stop where

clinically appropriate. • To identify and review patients on

emollients

Practice Pharmacist Support

• Practice support pharmacists were available to support practices to

undertake the reviews. • Where appropriate patients were

switched to a formulary emollient • Pharmacists in liaison with GPs, provided

full clinical reviews for patients using topical vitamin D analogue/

corticosteroid.

Results

Number of Practices who received practice based support 36 out of 45

Number of patients reviewed for adherence to emollient formulary 2,074

Number of recommendations made & agreed 1,653

Total annual cost saving to the CCG of changes implemented £30,247

£50,000.00

£52,000.00

£54,000.00

£56,000.00

£58,000.00

£60,000.00

£62,000.00

£64,000.00

£66,000.00

Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15

Emollient Prescribing

NEL Commissioning Support Unit