The aim of the formulary

The main aim of this BSW Joint Formulary is to promote safe, evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing across primary and secondary care. It is not intended to cover all prescribing, but should provide appropriate treatment for the vast majority of patients. The Joint Formulary provides a selective list of medicines which will lead to a greater familiarity with a limited range of medicines, helping to reduce prescribing errors and promote a seamless approach to prescribing.

Traffic Light Status Definitions and Information

These definitions reinforce the basic premise that when clinical and / or prescribing responsibility for a patient is transferred from Specialist-led services to Primary Care, sufficient information is shared, and the Primary Care prescriber should have the appropriate competence to prescribe the necessary medicines.

This information supports the approach taken in the GMC guide: Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices (5 April 2021)

All prescribers must recognise and work within the limits of their competence.  

Status	Description
	RED - These medicines are considered suitable for prescribing ONLY by a specialist clinician throughout treatment.  The specialist clinician is commonly situated in a hospital but may be within a virtual ward or a locally commissioned specialist-led service situated in primary care or other community setting. General non-specialist prescribing of a RED TLS medicine is NOT recommended unless there is a specific protocol under direct authority of a specialist employed within BSW set up to support this.
	AMBER - These medicines are considered suitable for prescribing in primary care following specialist initiation or recommendation.
	AMBER with Shared Care - These medicines require specialist initiation and stabilisation. Ongoing division of responsibility for drug and disease monitoring between specialist and primary care by a Shared Care Agreement (SCA). If no SCA in place status reverts to red.
	GREEN - These medicines are appropriate for initiation in both primary and secondary care. Prescribing is appropriate within licensed or local recommendations.
	SELF-CARE medicines are suitable for patients to be directed to buy themselves
	BLACK - Black TLS (in use from Oct 2020) Used where a decision has been made by the BSW APC not to routinely commission this preparation for its licensed indications. Do not prescribe.
	Not currently used. We intend to include this TLS in future to highlight where a decision to use this medicine is under review.
	Not currently used. We intend to include this TLS in future to highlight where this medicine and indication is ONLY available through a Specialist Centre according to a NICE Highly Specialised Technology or NHSE Specialised Commission Circular / Policy.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the content of the BSW Joint Formulary website is accurate and up to date we are unable to guarantee that the information is completely free from any inaccuracy.

The Joint Formulary is still under construction and is designed to be an evolving, dynamic resource. We welcome feedback and if you discover any information on our pages which you believe to be inaccurate or misleading please contact us using the feedback form.

If you cannot find a medicine in the formulary, assume it to be non-formulary and email bswicb.formulary@nhs.net for advice

The BSW Health Community will not be liable for any loss, damage or expense that might be caused by, or linked to, any action that a user might have taken as a result of using this site and other sites linked from it.  The responsibility for application of the information lies solely with the user. The links provided to other websites have been included for convenience and are to the websites of reputable organisations however we are unable to take responsibility for the availability or contents of these external sites.

Please note that the information provided is for information only and remains subject to existing intellectual property rights; no licence for the re-use of this information is given or implied through its provision to you.