Q. How do I suggest changes to the Red Amber List
A. All healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland are welcome to submit proposals for changes to the Red Amber List. In the first instance contact your local Interface Pharmacist Specialist Medicines to discuss the proposed change and get an overview of the process.
Q. What is the best way to keep up to date with changes to the Red Amber List?
A. You can add your email address to our mailing list by clicking here. We can then automatically email you with updates.
Q. How do I get involved with shared care guideline development or review?
A. If you wish to be involved in the review or development of shared care guidelines, contact your local Interface Pharmacist Specialist Medicines.
Q. Are there circumstances when it is appropriate to prescribe and dispense a red list medicine in primary care?
A. There may be circumstances when it is appropriate for red list medicines to be supplied in primary care. For example in the short term whilst arrangements are being put in place to transfer prescribing responsibility back to secondary care. If necessary you should seek advice from your local Interface Pharmacist Specialist Medicines or HSCB pharmacy adviser.
Q. Should a GP practice prescribe an amber or red list medicine on the recommendations of a private provider?
A.. The Red Amber List of specialist medicines and regionally agreed Shared Care Guidelines have been expressly designed to ensure patients commenced on specialist medications remain under the direct or shared care of the HSC Trust speciality that initiated treatment. Private providers should therefore not ask GPs to:
- Prescribe a medicine that is on the ‘red list’. The prescribing and supply of a ‘red list’ medicine should remain the responsibility of the private sector provider (or HSC Trust if appropriate).
- Provide a HSC prescriptions for an ‘amber list’ medicine in the absence of a shared care arrangement which outlines ongoing prescribing, monitoring and review arrangements, and has been agreed by both the private sector provider and with the GP directly.
Should a GP consider that a privately recommended amber treatment is clinically appropriate, the GP can choose to prescribe under the HSC terms of service and they can issue an HSC prescription. However, in doing so, the GP is accepting clinical responsibility for this decision and they should ensure that a shared care arrangement continues with the private provider including ongoing review. Private providers are asked not to recommend treatments which are not considered appropriate under the HSC and which are without robust clinical evidence.
Q. Can shared care guidelines be used by organisations outside of HSC?
A. Shared care guidelines listed on this website are developed within the HSC for application in Northern Ireland’s HSC setting following endorsement by the Regional Group on Specialist Medicines and they do carry the DoH and HSC logos. These regionally agreed guidelines published on the website should not be amended nor tampered with in any way.
Shared care arrangements are not just about monitoring requirements, but also about maintaining an arrangement around a patient and the medicine, including on-going review.
Q. How do I find out if an Amber list medicine is on the Northern Ireland Local Enhanced Service for Additional monitoring of amber drugs.
A. Users within HSCNI network can click here to find details relating to the Northern Ireland Local Enhanced Service for Additional monitoring of amber drugs.
Q. Where can I find previous versions of Shared-Care Guidelines?
A. These are removed from the website. Please contact your local Interface Pharmacist Specialist Medicines if you wish to receive a copy of a withdrawn or superseded shared-care guideline.