Joint formulary for urinary catheter products
As a direct result of integration, the continence service
has been able to achieve a standardised product formulary
for patients requiring catheter products. Patients in
Newcastle have access to the same products within acute
and community, settings, providing seamless transfer of
care. Within the community there is now a formulary
summary providing quick and easy access to products. The
joint formulary has ensured that there is standardisation
of prescribing across Newcastle. Practitioners have the
correct information, which is safe and effective, to support
their practice when prescribing catheter appliances. One
formulary provides cost-effective prescribing while offering
quality and safeguarding the interest of the patient. Using
a formulary across the whole trust allows the patient to
receive the best quality equipment as reviewed by the
trust. This includes reviews from specialist nurses from all
areas of care, physiotherapists, infection prevention and
control specialists, and supplies and pharmacy. Before the
introduction of a joint formulary, the patient may not have
received the best products, as the prescribers may not have
evaluated all products available. This has now been done
and the team continues to re-evaluate the formulary on a
regular basis.