Managing Medicines across a health community – Making area prescribing committees fit for purpose

Date of publication: May 2007

The clinical and financial risks and benefits associated with medicines are best managed using a collaborative area wide approach to medicines management. Commissioner and provider organisations have traditionally worked together to address these issues in Area Prescribing and Medicines Management Committees (APCs) or equivalents

The recent NHS changes in primary care organisations and the development of practice based commissioning provide the ideal opportunity for APCs to re-evaluate their activities and functions, and their role in providing leadership on joint, strategic medicines management across their health communities.

This web-based only document and accompanying resources is aimed at helping Area Prescribing and Medicines management Committees (APCs) review their role and functions and to ensure that they are fit for purpose.

Use this guide to

This document is of relevance to all organisations and individuals involved in the management of medicines across a health community including:

• PCT commissioner and provider services
• Practice-based commissioning (PBC) consortia
• Acute, foundation, and tertiary and specialist Trusts
• Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs)
• Existing APCs
• Any organisation with a role which impacts on strategic medicines management across a health community (e.g. cancer  networks, private contractors for NHS services, independent sector treatment centres, social services)
• Prescribers and pharmacists
• Patient representatives
  

Complete Document

Core Document

Resources

A quick diagnosis exercise to identify your APCs' strengths and weaknesses

Key success factors checklist
Useful information sources for APCs

Diagnostic tool