1. Newbury and District CCG MOT Update - May 2015
Jillian Powell – Pharmaceutical Advisor
Medicines Optimisation Team

2. Prescribing Savings Update
In the financial year 2014/15 £239,649 has been saved from the CCG prescribing budget. This has been generated from the work carried out by:
Medicines Optimisation Team – £84,912 (Generic savings, Specials, Branded switches)
Dietician reviews – £19,519
ScriptSwitch – £164,103 (From 9 Practices)
These figures do not include savings generated from switches carried out by the practices or interventions that prevented prescribing eg. Red traffic light drugs
The federated savings for the same period are in excess of £1,300,000.
Keeping within the allocated prescribing budgets is becoming more difficult however the Month 11 figures are predicting a break even position. With this is mind it is essential to maximise savings by ensuring that practices who have ScriptSwitch make sure it is available for use by all clinicians who make prescribing decisions.

3. The cut off date for appeals to be received is the 3rd June 2015.
Prescribing quality scheme
2014/15 scheme end of year data has been circulated to Practice Managers on the 20th May please ensure that you review this document and appeal any targets that have not been awarded if you feel justified.
It is the practices responsibility to explain clearly and concisely the reason for the appeal and submit it for consideration of the Appeal Panel via the address.
The cut off date for appeals to be received is the 3rd June 2015.
Non Medical Prescribers
When a nurse prescriber joins or leaves your practice please let the MOT know as soon as possible
Amendments to the database can be made by contacting or
Please also ensure that Scriptswitch is enabled on their computer, where clinically appropriate.

4. PQS 2015/16
The PQS document for 2015/6 has been ratified by GPMOC and signed off by the QIPP and Finance Committee. This has been circulated to all practices and the MOT are currently holding meetings to go through the targets.
The targets being reviewed by the team in Quarter 1 are:
Metformin Optimisation – Uncontrolled patients on < 2g per day
Aviva Test Strips Review – Those who are not Paeds, Using a Pump or Carb Counting
Pen Needles – Switching to more cost effective brands
Warfarin Patient Safety Audit – Patients who may be at risk
Over Active Bladder review – Women over 75 in line with NICE CG171
Cost effective switches – Preapproval requested to maximise savings

5. The events planned for 2015/16 are:
Evening meetings
In 2014/15 the Medicines Optimisation Team arranged three educational evening meetings as part of the PQS. Attendance at the events has been incentivised through the PQS to encourage attendance and hence the dissemination of prescribing messages through the 4 CCGs. The venue and catering costs are covered by Industry but they have no involvement in the speaker selection or the content of the presentation.
All of the evening meetings in 2014/15 were very well attended and the vast majority finding the event very informative and thought provoking.  The presentations are circulated after the event in the MOT Newsletter.
The events planned for 2015/16 are:
Respiratory – 30th June 2015, Andy Zurek and Jon Bell
Atrial Fibrillation - September 2015
Polypharmacy – Quarter 3 (Oct – Dec 15)
Pain – Quarter 4 (Jan – Mar 16)

6. Please ensure that those that
attended the sessions share the information with other clinicians.
The next event is on Respiratory and will be held on the
30th June 2015.
Please ensure that
your practice books your allocated place by the 19th June 2015.

7. New Members of the Medicines Optimisation Team
Aisha Afonso – PA to the Associate Director of Medicines Optimisation
Hetal Purmanan – Care Home Support Pharmacist
Rene Varma – Practice Support Dietitian
Care Home Support Pharmacist
Hetal has started her work in Nursing Homes in Newbury and District CCG, conducting annual medication reviews of patients in care homes with the GP. Hetal is keen to engage with all practices who are responsible for patients in care homes and has recently contacted all Practice managers to introduce herself.
If your practice has any planned annual reviews and would like Hetal’s input please contact her using the contact details below: 
 -

8. Contact details and Useful information
For general prescribing queries please contact the generic mailbox,
This will ensure that you receive a prompt response to your request.
For quick access to APC statements, traffic light status and other national and local guidance use netFormulary at
Pharmaceutical Advisor for Newbury and District CCG
Jillian Powell –
Mobile –
Practice Support Pharmacist
Orla McBride –
Mobile –