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A list of therapeutic topics that can be used to improve quality and save money in medicines management at a local level has been produced by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC).

The document covers 15 topics, including:

• statins
• hypoglycaemics
• low dose antipsychotics in people with dementia
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• long acting insulin analogues
• antibiotic prescribing
• high doses inhaled corticosteroids

QIPP* national workstream lead for medicines use and procurement at the Department of Health Peter Rowe said: 'This document provides a list of therapeutic topics that offer real opportunities for maintaining or improving quality and also, in most cases, improving value... This is a significant list of potential options for local work.'

He added that the topics will be crucial areas for consideration by the GP consortia that are proposed in the Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS White Paper.

Neal Maskrey, director of evidence-based therapeutics at the NPC, said: 'This brief report identifies some key therapeutic medicines management options for local implementation in 2010/11. It has been produced following a multidisciplinary scoping exercise, undertaken to identify a validated list of options for maximising efficient use of NHS spending on primary care prescribing, whilst maintaining quality, in the context of a challenging medium-term financial position.'

Key therapeutic topics 201/11 - medicines management options for local implementation can be accessed on the NPC website from Tuesday 3 August.

*Quality, innovation, productivity and prevention

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