Medicines and Prescribing SIG

This group brings together colleagues from across general practice to:

• Influence national policy, guidance, and the future direction of medicines optimisation in primary care
• Share therapeutic updates, highlight new guidance, and discuss emerging concerns.
• Promote safe, effective, evidence-based prescribing and appropriate non-medicines alternatives. Promote management options which provide best outcomes for patients
• Champion sustainable prescribing and environmentally responsible medicine choices, supporting the NHS net zero ambitions.
• Work with the RCGP Policy team and RCGP Medical Advisers , to contribute to consultations and discussions on prescribing-related issues.
• Promote GP Leadership: Ensure that General Practice prescribing leads are supported and connected across practices, neighbourhoods, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and the four nations of the UK
• Minimise the burden of medicines where appropriate to help address overprescribing in line with recommendations in the National Overprescribing review.
• Support clinicians who want to build confidence in deprescribing and medication reviews.
• Use prescribing data and measures to identify topic areas of concern.

If you're keen to be part of the conversation, do join us, whatever your experience. We all bring different perspectives which are important to hear.

Invited speakers have covered topics such as genomics and  patient information.  

Invited organisations  have included  Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), PrescQIPP, and General Pharmaceutical Council.

• Developed RCGP Policy statement on Medication Reviews Structured Medicines Review 
• Contributed to RCGP Prevention Report: The GP role in evidence-based and equitable prevention 
• Engagement with NHSE , to include medic sessional time alongside pharmacy colleagues in the Antimicrobial Stewardship Workforce  
• Responses submitted  reflecting the feasibility and implications of draft national guidance on  primary care and patients 
• Members  have represented RCGP at National and Parliamentary round table events 
• Collaboration Royal Colleges e.g.  British Geriatric Society Pragmatic prescribing to reduce harm for older people with moderate to severe frailty | British Geriatrics Society 
• Antimicrobial Stewardship work  

• Chairs : Professor Tony Avery,  Dr Tessa Lewis  
• Vice Chairs: Dr Lawrence Brad,  Dr Stephen Pike