Prescribing & Medicines Management
Issue no 5, p4
September/October 2003

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National Prescribing Centre (www.npc.co.uk)

Service from prescribing centre

A new service was launched at the end of September by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) to provide a range of targeted packages. Dubbed the NPC Plus programme, it has been developed in response to the demand for additional NPC support by PCTs in particular, but can be commissioned by other organisations such as acute trusts and the prison service. The NPC Plus programme will allow the NPC to develop and deliver more locally focused support to the NHS, over and above its existing activities. It is anticipated that the NPC Plus programme will eventually become a self-sustaining element of the NPC.

The NPC Plus programme will include a range of multidisciplinary support packages that can be commissioned by individual organisations, or by groups that serve the same locality. Packages that are now available for commissioning include:

• Therapeutic workshops for nurses
• Flexible therapeutics training for other health care professionals
• Budget setting support
• Managing the changes required by NICE guidance
• Critical appraisal training

Future packages include:
• Patient group directions, guidance and training
• Managing Controlled Drugs training
• Effective planning and introduction of new medicines into the NHS

For further information contact
Heidi Wright, assistant director
tel: 0161 611 3264
e-mail heidi.wright@npc.nhs.uk