Requesting changes to the formulary

The West of Scotland Formulary is a dynamic resource which aims to promote clinically effective, cost effective and safe prescribing in both primary and secondary care. The formulary content is reviewed regularly by working groups of healthcare professionals from across NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Dumfries & Galloway, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire. Suggestions for the addition, deletion or substitution of medicines, or updates to content are considered by the West of Scotland Formulary Committee.

Changes to new formulary chapters

As we launch each new chapter of the regional formulary we will not ordinarily look to make changes to those recommendations for the first six months, other than considering new SMC advice for that chapter or any urgent safety advice.

The initial publication dates for each launched chapter are:

If you identify a pressing need to change a formulary recommendation within the first six months of a chapter launching, please Contact Us.

New SMC advice for chapters that are in development, or have launched

New SMC advice related to a medicine that has been accepted for use in NHS Scotland will be considered for inclusion in the regional formulary for any chapter that is in development or has launched.

Existing local formulary teams and the regional formulary team will engage with clinicians across the region to gauge interest in potentially including the medicine on the formulary.

If there is support for its inclusion, the regional formulary team will coordinate the completion of an application, which will be progressed to the West of Scotland Formulary Committee for review. The outcome of decisions made by the Formulary Committee can be searched using the Formulary Decisions page.

If you have any questions on this process, please Contact Us.