BNF Publications have been working to improve access to prescribing information for Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribers (CPNPs), by incorporating the NPF content within the BNF. As a result of this work, updates have been made to content within the BNF.

Up until now the NPF was available as a print-only publication that was published every two years. Incorporating the NPF content within the BNF means that this content is now available digitally, via the BNF app and online, and within BNF print editions, as described below. NPF users will also benefit from access to BNF content that was previously not included in the NPF, such as drug interactions.  

Within the BNF app, online versions of the BNF, and BNF80, the NPF list of medicinal preparations now includes:

• Cross-references to BNF monographs to make navigating from the list to the monograph quick and easy
• Indications for which CPNPs can prescribe a specific drug or preparation
• Additional information (e.g. when initial assessment by a doctor is required before prescribing, or where there is a usual maximum duration of treatment for a specific indication)
• Signposting to doses for CPNPs where these differ from the standard doses in the BNF

Within the BNF app and online versions of the BNF, the following information has been added:

• General guidance for CPNPs (Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary—General guidance) which includes information on prescribing for CPNPs
• Treatment summaries for CPNPs (e.g. Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary—Analgesics) which provide an overview of the drug management or prophylaxis of conditions that are commonly managed by CPNPs and/or information on the use of appliances, such as stoma appliances

For further details, see How to use the NPF which sits above the medicinal preparations section in the NPF list.

Following the launch of the improved BNF and BNF for Children app last month, the latest update is now available for all users.

We would encourage you to download the update as soon as possible, v3.0.1 on the AppStore and v3.0.2 on the Google Play store.

As a reminder, switch on automatic updates to get instant access to the most up-to-date version of the BNF app. 

Update your BNF app

We are always interested in learning more about your use of the British National Formulary (BNF) content across print, online and app formats. Your feedback will help us ensure we are providing the most appropriate information in the most convenient format to support you in your practice.

If you would like to take part in this research please use the link below to complete our short survey.

Sorry this survey is now closed The prize draw winners have been notified and their last names are: Roberts, Siddiqui and Gillen.

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and your answers will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a thank you for your help, by completing the survey and entering our prize draw, you could win one of three £100 Amazon vouchers.

BNF Publications are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Fraz Mir as the Senior Medical Adviser to the BNF Board and Chair of the BNF Joint Formulary Committee.

Dr Mir is a clinical pharmacologist and consultant physician at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. In addition, he is head of the School of Postgraduate Medicine for Health Education East of England. Dr Mir also brings to the role a wealth of experience in medicines governance and patient safety.

The British National Formulary (BNF) app helps busy healthcare professionals access essential medicines information quickly, offline and on-the-go.

Used by around 200,000 healthcare professionals every month, it continues to be a vital resource for those prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines.

Later this month an improved version will be available. If you’ve already downloaded the BNF app and switched on automatic updates, you will get instant access to the improved version. Otherwise, simply update your app to access the improved version.

What can I look forward to?

Colour-coded content

BNF and BNF for Children content will be colour-coded with clear labelling. You can easily differentiate between adult and child content and identify the right information for your patient; blue for BNF and pink for BNF for Children.

Intuitive design

The thoughtful design updates support the selection of safe and effective medicines – search Interactions with one click and swiftly move from section to section with the new menu.

Pharmaceutical Press from The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is today announcing the release of essential drug information focussed on supporting those working in critical care through the COVID-19 crisis. This is available to the NHS in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and to MedicinesComplete users at no charge.

Critical Illness is a new resource planned for publication next year, providing healthcare professionals working in intensive care units with specific guidance to help them make confident and effective decisions in this high-risk environment. Due to these exceptional circumstances, all available content is being released now. 

Pharmaceutical Press Managing Director, Karen Baxter said “I am incredibly grateful for the dedication and effort shown by the team at Pharmaceutical Press and our expert editors who have worked around the clock whilst also continuing their patient-facing roles to ensure we release this essential content set. We are glad to be able to support frontline NHS teams with this vital resource at such a pressured time.”

The advance release of Critical Illness, compiled by consultants and specialist pharmacists working in critical care comprises 6 monographs and prescribing guidance considered core for critical care units that follow dosing outside of standard regimens and are specifically useful for adult COVID-19 patients.

Dr Cathrine McKenzie, editor of Critical Illness and a clinical academic pharmacist with over 25 years’ experience in critical care said “I am really delighted to partner with my intensivist colleague’s Dr Barbara Philips and Dr Chris Kirwan and fellow pharmacist Greg Barton to provide, what we hope is a dynamic prescribing text to support critical care at this time of intense need. I also want to thank all the antimicrobial and intensive care pharmacists for their input into this early release and finally to Pharmaceutical Press for their support in transforming our ideas into a valuable resource.”

For more information about Critical Illness go to about.medicinescomplete.com/publication/critical-illness/

About MedicinesComplete

MedicinesComplete makes it easy for healthcare professionals to access essential medicines information at the point of care. Trusted evidence-based resources include British National Formulary, Stockley’s Drug Interactions, Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference, Palliative Care Formulary and many more specialist resources.

Our skilled editorial team of clinical writers includes pharmacists and science graduates who triage new information, assess evidence and review changes made by other clinical writers before publication. Certain content is further assessed by external experts, committee and peer review. Ensuring clear, concise and actionable guidance to support confident decision-making on the use and administration of drugs and medicines, and effective patient care.

As the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s knowledge business, we invest all our resources into creating independent and unbiased knowledge to promote best practice in medicines use.

For more information email marketing@rpharms.com

About Pharmaceutical Press

When healthcare professionals need to make the right decision, Pharmaceutical Press puts evidence-based pharmaceutical knowledge at their fingertips. Trusted worldwide for providing accessible clinical advice that improves patient safety, with an unmatched commitment to independently sourcing, evaluating and communicating the most accurate information. As the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s knowledge business, we invest all of our resources into creating world-class tools that promote best practice in medicines use, which means healthcare professionals can quickly and confidently make the most informed decisions.

MedicinesComplete is a Pharmaceutical Press product from The Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

We are pleased to confirm that the issue for updating the BNF App has now been fixed.

Version 2.1.22 of the App now resolves the pop-up issue.

Thank you for your patience.

We are aware that the BNF app on iOS is currently alerting all users to update their app, via a pop-up which states:

“Update available: A new version of this App is available which contains the latest BNF and BNFC content. Please update to the latest version”.

This is occurring for all users, irrespective of whether they are using the most up-to-date version.

If your app indicates that you are using version 2.1.21, and the October 2019 content update, then this is the most recent content and no update is required. You should choose “Later”, and the pop-up will disappear.

If your app indicates that you are using a version earlier than 2.1.21, or a content update dated earlier than October 2019, then you should update your app so that you are using the most up-to-date content. After updating, you may still be prompted to update again but you can choose “Later” so that the pop-up disappears.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

70 years supporting you make effective decisions

Since 1949 the British National Formulary (BNF) has been the UK’s most trusted and authoritative healthcare resource, helping to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines at the point of care.

Over the past 70 years we’ve never lost sight of what’s important, and looking ahead we will continue to provide unrivalled guidance on prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines.

As part of our 70th celebration we want to share some behind-the-scenes detail about what makes the BNF special.

Find out more here

Do you have a success story about how the BNF has been pivotal in your healthcare career? We’d love to hear about it on social media, just use the hashtag #BNF70years