- Rule change will allow doctors and pharmacists to better
respond to flu outbreaks
- Patients will get access to vital treatment for flu whatever
time of the year
- Government reducing restrictions and slashing bureaucracy to
help save lives and protect the NHS
Patients will get the flu medicines they need more quickly and at
any time of the year, thanks to government changes to prescribing
regulations.
As part of its commitment to reduce winter pressures and protect
the NHS, the government is removing the restriction that means
certain flu medications cannot begin to be prescribed outside the
usual ‘flu season' until an annual letter of confirmation from
the Chief Medical Officer is received, which can lead to delays
in treatment.
These rules are being removed so action can be taken to tackle
flu all year round. This will allow patients to receive treatment
sooner and ease winter pressures by allowing outbreaks to be
contained.
The move is part of the government's ongoing drive to slash
unnecessary bureaucracy in the health service through the Red
Tape Challenge and put power back in the hands of clinicians on
the frontline.
It coincides with the NHS launching this year's improved flu
vaccine programme today (Monday 1 Sept). The autumn rollout kicks
off with flu vaccines for millions of children and pregnant
women. And it follows the recent introduction of the chickenpox
vaccine for thousands of children and the RSV vaccine for
pregnant women and older adults across the country, as the
government continues building the NHS's defences ahead of winter.
Health Minister, , said
Flu can strike all year round, so it doesn't make sense to
restrict doctors and pharmacists from taking action to protect
the most vulnerable in their communities.
That's why, as well as starting the flu vaccination programme
today, we are also removing the need for clinicians to have to
ask for permission to prescribe what their patients need.
It is exactly the type of change we wanted to see when we
launched the Red Tape Challenge to bulldoze bureaucracy and
prioritise patients over paperwork.
While the number of flu outbreaks outside of the ‘flu season' in
October to March is relatively low, the potential outcomes are no
less severe. Removing these barriers now will enable the NHS to
respond more quickly to health challenges year-round,
strengthening its preparation for winter.
Until now GPs and pharmacies had to be commissioned via a
patient-specific direction to prescribe certain medicines, which
led to delays. It also meant clinicians could prescribe some
medicines and not others.
The reasons for the restrictions no longer apply and removing
them means clinicians can provide the right treatment at the
right time to patients.
Specifically this change will allow oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and
zanamivir (Relenza®) to be prescribed and dispensed outside the
flu season.
These antivirals are recommended for treatment of those at
highest risk of severe disease outside of the flu season,
following a confirmatory test for flu. They are also
recommended to prevent disease in specific settings such as care
homes where confirmed cases of flu have occurred.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisation
at UKHSA said:
While the majority of influenza cases and outbreaks occur during
the flu season, we do continue to see outbreaks outside the peak
period.
These changes will allow primary care providers and health
protection teams to respond more rapidly with effective treatment
to reduce the risk of severe disease and the spread of infection
at any time of year.
As the flu vaccination programme gets underway, vaccine teams are
working across the country to make it as easy as possible for
those eligible to get their jabs - with some school providers now
offering vaccines in nursery settings for two to
three-year-olds for the first time ever.
Expectant mums and all children aged two to 16 are eligible for
the flu vaccine, expanding to six months to 18 years old for
those in clinical risk groups.
The NHS National Booking System also opens today for all eligible
individuals to book their winter flu and Covid-19 vaccinations,
with appointments starting from Wednesday 1 October.
