On 8th July 2022 NHS England published a suite of 18 shared care protocols: https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-2/regional-medicines-optimisation-committees-advice/shared-care-protocols/.

These have been developed by the Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee (RMOC) North in conjunction with the Shared Care Working Group and the Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre.

Before being published they underwent a national consultation and approval process by RMOC North and ultimately by the relevant NHSE National Clinical Directors and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer. Further information on this process can be found on the NHSE website using the link above.

The GMMMG Clinical Reference Group (CRG) are now seeking comments from stakeholders on the potential barriers to implementation of these 18 shared care protocols. The clinical content has been approved nationally with representation from all regions including Greater Manchester, with input during the development, and via the consultation process undertaken by RMOC.

For this reason CRG are not seeking comments on the clinical content of the documents but are looking to the GM Integrated Care System to provide feedback on how these should now be used to replace the current shared care protocols.

GMMMG are keen to understand what barriers, if any, may prevent all GM localities from being able to adopt these national shared care protocols. These could include, but may not be limited to:

  • Specialist service design and capacity
  • Resource implications in both primary care and specialist clinics
  • Compatibility with current digital communication methods
  • Appropriateness of the listed indications for use of the medicine

Therefore CRG on behalf of GMMMG invite all GM stakeholders to submit comments using the link below before the closing date of 3rd October 2022. A downloadable copy of this text is also available via the link.

Comments submitted on clinical content of the documents are unlikely to be addressed at a GM level unless GMMMG agree that there are significant safety concerns. Any other comments will be collated and submitted to the NHSE Medicines Policy Team to inform future work to manage and update the documents.

Consultation comments can be submitted via the feedback form at https://gmmmg.nhs.uk/consultations/136-consultation-national-shared-care/.

* Please note: this news item was updated on 17th August 2022 to reflect the new closing date for this consultation. The consultation period has been extended from 8 to 10 weeks, and will now close on Monday 3rd October 2022.