Epidermolysis Bullosa: Prescriptions

Prescribers are responsible for ensuring treatments are clinically appropriate for their patients, taking specialist advice into account where relevant. Individual prescribing decisions, including for dressings and medicines, are a matter of clinical judgement based on patient need, national guidance on clinical effectiveness, and local integrated care board prescribing policies.

Subject to funding, clinicians may prescribe any National Health Service product they consider clinically necessary unless it is listed in Schedules 1 or 2 of the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004.

Clinicians should also have regard to the General Medical Council’s prescribing guidance, Good practice in proposing, prescribing, providing and managing medicines and devices. However, this does not override their responsibility to make decisions in the patient’s best interests. Prescribing decisions should always be clinically appropriate and in patients’ best interests, including for those with rare and complex conditions such as epidermolysis bullosa. Where concerns arise about changes to treatment, patients and clinicians can seek advice from relevant specialist services. Further information on the Good practice in proposing, prescribing, providing and managing medicines and devices guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/the-professional-standards/good-practice-in-prescribing-and-managing-medicines-and-devices

NHS England will continue to work with stakeholders to understand any emerging issues relating to access to appropriate treatments and to ensure that care remains safe and effective.