Launch issue
January 2002

for health professionals interested in effective prescribing

One of the planks of the reform of the NHS is that there should be continuous improvement of prescribing and the use of medicines. Medicines Management is a new publication that will be launched in January 2002. It is designed to assist all health care professionals who have an interest in ensuring that patients achieve maximum benefit from prescribed medication.

Every primary care organisation in England is expected to develop and deliver medicines management services by 2004 and similar initiatives are under way in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Topics covered will range from population-based issues, to individual patient problems; and from the financial implications of implementing National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance and national service frameworks to local budgetary considerations.

Articles will be practical and accessible, and the publication will be more a forum for debate and exchange of ideas, rather than a journal of record.

Medicines Management will appeal to all pharmacists who have an interest in effective prescribing:

Community pharmacists who are interested in developing the services they offer patients

Primary care pharmacists who are already working with GP practices and primary care organisations

Hospital pharmacists who have medicines management programmes up and running and would like to learn what others are doing, and also to work more closely with their colleagues in the community

Medicines Management will also be of interest to GPs who appreciate the new services that pharmacists have to offer, prescribing leads in primary care organisations and nurse prescribers.

Medicines Management is supported by:

the National Prescribing Centre through its medicines management collaborative programme;

the College of Pharmacy Practice through the Faculty of Prescribing and Medicines Management; and

the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee through its medicines management programme.

Medicines Management will also seek the support of initiatives in Scotland and Wales.