Respiratory Dashboard
Given the complexity of prescribing in respiratory care and number of medicines available, it was agreed by a national group of respiratory specialists that it would be useful to help see the variation in prescribing of respiratory medicines across England.
The aim of this dashboard is to highlight the variation in prescribing across the Sub ICB Locations (SICBLs), (previously CCGs) in England so that SICBLs and local health economies can use this data at local level to decide if this variation is warranted or unwarranted and if and how they may wish to address this.
Whilst this may demonstrate patterns in prescribing and spend on those medicines, we do not anticipate that local health economies will use this dashboard in isolation. Its intention is to help generate discussion about respiratory prescribing within local health economies, that may potentially help inform any future programmes of work or help to identify areas for future improvement in prescribing. It may also help to identify best practice that others can learn from.
You can view more information about the Respiratory Dashboard.
Valproate prescribing in female patients under 55 dashboard
Working in collaboration with the NHS England and NHS Improvement Valproate Safety Implementation Group (VSIG), we’ve developed a set of prescribing indicators to track the use of valproate medicines among women of childbearing potential (WCP).
For the purposes of these comparators, WCP is interpreted as females between the ages of 13 and 54 years. Information is also provided on valproate prescribing for girls between the ages of 0 and 12 who may continue treatment in later years.
Valproate prescribing in pregnancy has shown to increase the risk of physical birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders in unborn babies. Guidance from MHRA suggests that valproate should not be used in WCP unless other treatments are ineffective or not tolerated.
The indicators identify the number of WCP who are receiving valproate medication. The data can be used to analyse prescribing patterns, to support a reduction in the use of valproate in WCP, and to help prevent unplanned pregnancies in women taking valproate.
You can read more about the valproate prescribing in the female patients under 55 Dashboard.
Antimicrobial Stewardship - RightCare UTI Focus Pack dashboard
The metrics reported in this dashboard have been developed by the RightCare programme in collaboration with NHS England and NHS Improvement and are designed to support Sub ICB Locations (SICBLs), (previously CCGs) led improvement in the management of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in people aged 70 and over.
Antimicrobial Stewardship - RightCare UTI comparators show prescribing patterns for patients treated with antibiotics for UTIs. Clinicians developed them to support better prescribing. They let you see variation and identify areas of interest for further investigation and patient review. They do not show good or bad prescribing.
You can read more about the Antimicrobial Stewardship - RightCare UTI Focus Pack Dashboard.
Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) utilisation
These dashboards provide information on the electronic prescription service and electronic repeat dispensing.
They allow GP practices, SICBLs, and other bodies to:
- see the variation in EPS and eRD prescribing across GP practices, within a SICBL, and across SICBLs
- see trends and variations in EPS and eRD dispensing across dispensers, and within Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) (previously STPs)
- help prioritise potential areas of activity
- help monitor the impact of initiatives to increase EPS and eRD utilisation
The dashboards support local interventions to help drive the growth of EPS and eRD. This means patients, prescribing organisations such as GP practices, and dispensing organisations such as pharmacies, can experience the potential benefits of the increased use of EPS and eRD.
You can view more information about the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) utilisation dashboard.
Evidence-based interventions (EBI)
The Evidence-based interventions dashboard has been updated with List 2 interventions (Word: 246KB).
This provides information about baseline activity and estimated activity reduction goals for 17 interventions targeted by the evidence-based interventions programme.
The dashboard has an activity of 5 or below redacted, in accordance with the Department of Health and NHS England Statistical Policy: Disclosure and Confidentiality policy.
You can view more information about the evidence-based interventions dashboard.
Medication safety indicators
This shows a set of prescribing indicators developed as part of a programme of work to reduce medication error and promote safer use of medicines, including:
- prescribing
- dispensing
- administration
- monitoring
You can view more information about the medication safety indicators dashboard.
Respiratory - Carbon Impact dashboard
Around 3% of all carbon dioxide emissions generated by the NHS come from the prescribing of inhalers for respiratory conditions.
Recently there have been initiatives to choose greener alternatives when prescribing inhalers. Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) rely upon an aerosol to deliver their active chemical ingredients and have a higher carbon load than alternatives such as dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and soft mist inhalers (SMIs).
Where clinically appropriate, prescribers have been encouraged to prescribe a DPI or SMI. If this is not possible, they are encouraged to prescribe a lower-carbon MDI variant. In this way a more sustainable approach to inhaler prescribing can be achieved, mitigating the carbon impact of respiratory prescribing, without a negative impact on patient outcomes.
The Respiratory - Carbon Impact dashboard sits alongside the existing Respiratory dashboard in Catalyst. It is intended to provide prescribers and commissioners with the necessary insight to understand the impact of respiratory prescribing in terms of sustainability. It will also provide a way to monitor and promote better prescribing practice in the respiratory space, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions.
The data is shown by month, and can be viewed at GP practice, PCN and sub ICB location levels.
You can read more information about the Respiratory - Carbon Impact dashboard.
