Author: Nancy Kane

Patient Group Directions (PGDs) for immunisations are hosted on the Greater Manchester Integrated Care website. A link to these PGDs has been added to the GMMMG site on the Prescribing Policies page.

The Greater Manchester Strategic Clinical Network (SCN) have developed an Adult Hypertension Medication Pathway for use in GM. We now seek comments on the draft pathway; please visit the consultations page to take part.

The consultation will run until 5pm on Tuesday 6th June 2023.

Following approval by CRG, GMMMG, and the Greater Manchester ICS Clinical Effectiveness and Governance Committee, the formulary and RAG list have been updated as follows:

• Avatrombopag for primary chronic immune thrombocytopenia added to chapter 9 as a RED drug
• Esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression added to DNP list

The formulary has also been updated to reflect relevant safety alerts and NICE guidelines. For full details, see the formulary change log available on the formulary page.

On behalf of the GMMMG Clinical Reference Group, we now seek comments on the actions proposed at their April 2023 meeting. Actions in this consultation include:

• Efmody modified-release hydrocortisone capsules – to add to formulary as GREEN (specialist initiation)
• Tacalcitol lotion and ointment – not to be added to formulary
• Dapagliflozin for CKD in children – to add to paediatric RAG list as RED
• Long term azithromycin for chronic respiratory disease – to add to RAG list as GREEN (specialist advice)
• Eptinezumab for preventing migraine – to add to formulary as RED
• Cannabidiol for seizures caused by tuberous sclerosis complex – to be RED
• Semaglutide for overweight and obesity – to add to formulary as RED, for prescribing by specialist weight management services
• Finerenone for CKD in type 2 diabetes – to add to formulary as GREEN (specialist initiation)
• Tocilizumab for COVID-19 – to add to formulary as RED
• Asfotase alfa – to add to paediatric RAG list as RED

All links to MHRA drug safety updates will be added to formulary as appropriate.

To take part in this consultation, visit the consultations page. The consultation period is open until 5pm on Thursday 1st June 2023.

This paper provides a brief overview of the national background for pharmacy professional practice and an update on the Greater Manchester (GM) Integrating Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation (IPMO) Workforce group, setting out next steps for the development of the NHS Greater Manchester Pharmacy Workforce Strategy. 

We would like to invite you to provide your comments on the update paper and any areas that require further consideration by the GM Pharmacy Workforce Group to include within the NHS GM Pharmacy Workforce Strategy. 

To take part in the consultation, visit the consultations page.

Following approval by CRG, GMMMG, and the Greater Manchester ICS Clinical Effectiveness and Governance Committee, the formulary and RAG list have been updated to add Cyclogest pessaries as an option for management of threatened miscarriage.

The full formulary is available on the formulary page.

On behalf of the GMMMG Clinical Reference Group, we now seek comments on the actions proposed at the March 2023 virtual CRG meeting. Actions in this consultation include:

• Upadacitinib for non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis to be added to formulary as RED
• Somatrogon for growth disturbance in children and young people to be added to formulary as RED
• Vutrisiran for hereditary transthyretin-related amyloidosis to be added to RAG list as RED
• Ataluren for Duchenne muscular dystrophy to be added to RAG list as RED
• Chapter 2 to be updated with a note “do not routinely offer aspirin for primary prevention of CVD”, with link to NICE CG181.

All links to MHRA drug safety updates will be added to formulary as appropriate.

To take part in this consultation, visit the consultations page. The consultation period is open until midday on Tuesday 2nd May 2023.

Following approval by GM ICB exec, the following decisions have been approved and published:

• Dexamethasone intravitreal implant for diabetic macular oedema – formulary updated to reflect updated NICE guidance.
• Avacopan to severe active granulomatosis with polyangitis or microscopic polyangiitis add to RAG
  list as RED.
• Ozanimod for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis added to formulary as RED.
• Upadacitinib for active ankylosing spondylitis added to formulary as RED.
• Relugolix–estradiol–norethisterone acetate for treating moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids added to formulary as GREEN (following specialist advice).

The formulary has also been updated to reflect relevant safety alerts. For full details please see the formulary change log, which is available on the formulary page.

For more information on these and other decisions, please see GMMMG decision summaries.