An Introduction to the British National Formulary BNF

An Introduction to the British National Formulary (BNF) Gail Holmes

Learning Outcomes • Understand the focus of the Pharmacy Professional • Describe what the BNF is • Understand why this is used • Be able to navigate the BNF to extract key information

Standards for Pharmacy Professionals Must: 1 Provide person-centred care 6 Behave in a professional manner 2 Work in partnership with others 3 Communicate effectively 7 Respect and maintain the person’s confidentiality and privacy 4 Maintain, develop and use their professional knowledge and skills 8 Speak up when they have concerns or when things go wrong 5 Use professional judgement 9 Demonstrate leadership

Dispensing and Supply of Medicines: • supply medicines to patients, whether on prescription or over the counter • assemble medicines for prescriptions • advise patients about medicines, including how to take them, what reactions may occur and answer patients' questions.

Context Main reference tool used to assist safe and effective medicines use in practice is the BNF

Introduction The BNF is a joint publication of the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Overview The BNF is designed as a rapid reference and includes key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines.

Overview Use of this resource throughout the health service helps to ensure that medicines are used: Safely Effectively Appropriately

It is Available in 3 formats: Hardback

Mobile

Online: https: //bnf. nice. org. uk/

Introduction • The BNF is an up to date pocket book, for rapid reference by healthcare professionals, which encourages sensible, cost effective and safe use of medicines. • You will learn some of the main points about the BNF in the next slides.

Using the BNF The main text consists of classified notes on clinical conditions, drugs and preparations. • These notes are divided into chapters, each of which is related to a particular system of the body or to an aspect of medical care. • Each chapter is divided into sections which begins with appropriate notes for prescribers. •

The BNF can be used to determine: What medical conditions a medication is licensed to be prescribed for (indications) • When a medication should be prescribed with care (caution) • When a medication shouldn’t be prescribed (contra-indication) • What potentially happens when 2 medicines are prescribed concurrently (interaction) •

The BNF can be used to determine: • What cautionary and advisory labels should be placed on a dispensed label (Appendix) • What medication cannot be safely prescribed in pregnancy • What medication cannot be prescribed in mothers who are breast feeding

Answers 1. 35 mg 2. Initially 10 mg increasing to 20 mg OD 3. True 4. Disulfiram like reaction 5. Yes 6. 12 mg per day 7. They are more susceptible to the side effects.

Standards for Pharmacy Professionals Must: 1 Provide person-centred care 6 Behave in a professional manner 2 Work in partnership with others 3 Communicate effectively 7 Respect and maintain the person’s confidentiality and privacy 4 Maintain, develop and use their professional knowledge and skills 8 Speak up when they have concerns or when things go wrong 5 Use professional judgement 9 Demonstrate leadership

Check of Learning Outcomes • Understand the focus of the Pharmacy Professional • Describe what the BNF is • Understand why this is used • Be able to navigate the BNF to extract key information

References 1. Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary (online) London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. Available at: http: //www. medicinescomplete. com [Accessed on 23 rd November 2019] 2. Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary. [75] ed. London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press; [2018] 3. General Pharmaceutical Society (GPh. C). Standards for Pharmacy Professionals. May 2017 (online). Available at: https: //www. pharmacyregulation. org/sites/default/files/standards_for_phar macy_professionals_may_2017. pdf [Accessed on 23 rd November 2019]