National Prescribing Centre

National Prescribing Centre (NPC) (2002) MeReC Briefing - Lifestyle measures to reduce cardiovascular risk. Available at http //www.npc.co.uk/MeReC Briefings/2002/ briefing no 19.pdf [Accessed 3 July 2008],... 

See MeReC Briefing No. 28 (National Prescribing Centre, 2005) for further details of the evidence base relating to statins and also the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists (CTT) Collaborators (2005) meta-analysis. 

Approximately a third of patients who attend their GP with a sore throat want or expect a prescription for antibiotics. There is evidence to suggest that prescribing antibiotics increases re-attendance rates for further episodes of sore throat and exposes patients to side-effects. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics also increases antibiotic resistance selection pressure (National Prescribing Centre, 2003). 

National Prescribing Centre (2004) Drug management of type 2 diabetes summary. MeRec Bulletin 15(1), October. Available atwww.npc.co.uk/MeReC bulletins/2004 volumes/v0115n01. pdf [Accessed 4 July 2008],... 

National Prescribing Centre (2006) Contraception - current issues. MeReC Bull 17 2. 

From Practical Group Directions - A practical guide and framework of competencies for all professionals using patient group directions. Liverpool National Prescribing Centre, 2004. www.npc.co.uk... 

All health care professionals who are involved with supplementary prescribing will require continuing professional development (CPD). Practitioners have a responsibility to keep themselves up to date with clinical and professional developments. Since 2005, podiatrists (and others) have also had to meet the requirements of the Standards for Continuing Professional Development of the Health Professions Council. This is a self-declaration, which has to be kept current with practice within an individual s practice. It is subject to periodic audit, requiring the submission of evidence of CPD to the HPC. Employers should allow practitioners access to relevant education and training. The Department of Health has commissioned CPD support for supplementary prescribers through the National Prescribing Centre (see www.npc.co.uk). 

National Prescribing Centre (2004) Maintaining Competency in Prescribing. 

National Prescribing Centre, Modem wound dressing management . Pres Nurse Built, 1999 1(2) 8. 

The cross-national prescribing database using the same methodology provided a useful and valid comparison of patterns of prescribing psychotropic medications in mental health services in Australia, Thailand, and Malaysia (Ng et al, submitted). The study was carried out in three outpatient mental health centres in North Western Mental Health (NWMH) in Melbourne (September to November 2002), Prince of Songkla University Hospital in Hat Yai (January to March 2003), and Hospital Kuala Lumpur (January to March 2003). The proportions of outpatients treated with a primary diagnosis of a psychotic illness were 91%, 41%, and 75% in the Australian, Thai, and Malaysian samples respectively. Considering psychotropic prescriptions in schizophrenia alone, the majority of patients were prescribed antipsychotics Australia (93.7%), Thailand (92.9%), and Malaysia (97.7%). 

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