SURREY AND SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST

PHARMACY PROCEDURE

Procedure for agreeing one-off treatments

Procedure Number: DTC001
Version Number: 2

Written By: David Heller
Designation: Director of Pharmacy

A one-off treatment is a drug treatment that is required urgently to prevent:

  • Unnecessary suffering
  • Life threatening condition

The Consultant can apply to the Area Prescribing Chairman or, in the absence of the Chairman, the Chief Pharmacist for Chairman's approval for a one-off treatment.

Some treatments may be subject to a decision of the Area Prescribing Committee or have significant funding implications. Such treatments might not be approved via the procedure outlined here.

  • This procedure is to be used when there is a need for the treatment for a specific patient in advance of an application having been considered by the Area Prescribing Committee.
  • It can be used once only, then a full application must be made to APC
  • If the Consultant thinks that a request is likely to be repeated or that the treatment for a patient is on-going then the Consultant must initiate a full APC application.
  1. 1. The Consultant applying for one-off treatment must write to the Chairman of the Area Prescribing Committee giving the following:
  2. condition to be treated
  3. reasons for existing treatment being unsuitable
  4. brief supporting evidence for the safety / efficacy of the drug applied for
  5. a copy of the data sheet or Summary of Product Characteristics for the product concerned
  6. if the product is unlicensed for the intended use then a patient information leaflet is to be supplied
  7. the likely duration of treatment
  8. the cost of the treatment
  9. The Consultant applying for one-off treatment must copy the letter to the Director of Pharmacy (APC Vice-Chairman) and the General Manager responsible for their service. In exceptional circumstances, where the drug is required in less than 24 hours, the Chairman or Vice-Chairman will consider a verbal request although this must be followed by written application.
  10. The Chairman will reach a decision on the need for immediate action based on the information presented. The Chairman will notify the Consultant, copying the letter to the Director of Pharmacy, the Secretary of the APC and the relevant Principal Pharmacist.
  11. The D&T will consider the one-off treatment to ratify the Chairman’s action.

Printed from on 31/01/2007 16:21:19

This is an uncontrolled copy