The SASH Prescribing Formulary contains a comprehensive list of approved drugs for prescribing as ratified and integrated by two main committees (SASH Drugs and Therapeutics Committee and the Surrey Area Prescribing Committee (representing eight CCGs and five Acute NHS Trusts across the Health Economy). The formulary contains links to shared care guidelines, updated NICE TAs and the newer agents are colour-coded in a Traffic Light System to reflect where clinical prescribing responsibility lies for a specific medicine (see table below).

All prescribing from within the Trust (i.e. inpatient and outpatient) must comply with the formulary. Advice given to GPs regarding drug treatment options must also be in line with the SASH formulary.

The formulary pages below are no longer being kept up to date and will soon be removed. The up to date formulary is now available on Microguide and can be downloaded in the Microguide app on a smart phone or accessed online via the link above. For any feedback relating to the formulary/formulary app, please contact the formulary lead pharmacist: jemma.hives@nhs.net.

Process for non formulary drug initiation

Non-Formulary requests for individual patients (for patient specific use of a non-formulary medication)

Individual funding requests (IFR) for high cost drugs can be found on the high cost drugs page

The process for adding medicines to the formulary is changing. Applications for medicines that will only be prescribed within secondary care will continue to be reviewed by the SASH DTC following full completion and submission of one of the below forms. Any applications for medicine that may be prescribed within primary care or PBRex medicines commissioned by CCGs will need to be reviewed at the Surrey and North West Sussex Area Prescribing Committee (APC). Decisions made at APC will be reflected in the SASH prescribing formulary.

Formulary application (for addition of a medication onto the formulary for specified indication(s))

Formulary extension Application (for adding a new formulation or strength of a medication to the formulary)

If there is a temporary shortage of a medicine, a non-formulary alternative may be used without a formulary application. Shortages are reviewed by the pharmacy department in conjunction with clinical teams to identify suitable alternative products before prescribing. For information and advice regarding medicines shortages see ‘Advice for divisions on medicines shortages’ document below.

Advice for divisions on medicines shortages v1.3