Download The London New Drugs Group

The London New Drugs Group
Terms of Reference, September 2011
1. Purpose and function of the London New Drugs Group
The purpose of the London New Drugs Group (LNDG) is to act as an expert
collaborative advisory body to support commissioners and providers make rational
decisions regarding new medicines and strategic medicines issues. The group
focusses particularly on issues where significant clinical or financial impact is
envisaged for a given medicine. The group works to ensure evidence of efficacy,
safety, and cost-effectiveness is reflected in evaluations and as such the outputs
support the QIPP agenda.
The LNDG considers medicines only where they will not be or have not yet been
considered by NICE; in addition, LNDG seeks not to repeat the work of other NHS
medicines review bodies unless there are specific local circumstances warranting
action. The LNDG does not consider orphan, ultra-orphan, or unlicensed medicines
routinely unless there are specific circumstances warranting action.
LNDG undertakes the following specific functions:

Early identification of new medicines and strategic medicines issues
A continual programme of horizon scanning using NHS resources identifies new
medicines with potential implications. In addition, other strategic medicines
issues are identified through the group’s membership and networks.

Publication of detailed timely reviews according to a defined work programme
and format
A process of triage seeks to ensure detailed review of medicines only where
there is a definite need. The process involves group members and external
stakeholders considering identified new medicines and issues; takes account of
the work of other national and regional review bodies; and ultimately seeks to
ensure providers and commissioners have access to detailed peer-reviewed
advice on given medicines in a timely manner.

Publication of reviews that consider the evidence-base, expert opinion, and
provider and commissioner views
The networks of the LNDG ensure a range of views from stakeholders form part
of the process of review production, thus ensuring the work is grounded in the
reality of the NHS in London.

Publication of reviews that recommend particular courses of action where
appropriate
Whilst LNDG outputs are primarily evaluative, specific courses of actions are
sometimes recommended where supported by the evidence-base and where a
reasonable consensus has been reached with stakeholders. There is, however,
no obligation for commissioners or providers to adhere to recommendations
from the LNDG.

Prevention of duplication of effort across NHS organisations
By undertaking the drug review work once and sharing, duplication of effort is
prevented across NHS organisations.
2. Governance and accountability arrangements
The evaluative (as opposed to decision making) function of the LNDG means
governance arrangements in relation to individual NHS organisations are not
formalised. The LNDG may be considered a joint sub-group of the cluster PCT lead
pharmacists and the provider Chief Pharmacists groups for London. As such LNDG is
nominally accountable to Chief Pharmacists in provider and commissioner
organisations through the Director for East and South-East England Specialist
pharmacy services.
The majority of the review work of the group is undertaken by pharmacists from East
and South-East England Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) and accountability
arrangements reflect the management structure for SPS.
3. Relationships with other organisations, stakeholders and
networks
The LNDG works to analyse and interpret the evidence, but also taps into knowledge
from expert networks in order to inform and disseminate thinking on specific issues.
As part of the review process, the group seeks input on the likely impact of new
medicines from networks of pharmacists, medics, and commissioners working across
NHS organisations. Review authors seek to enable pharmaceutical industry
comment on specific content where appropriate, but work to the principle that final
outputs are always NHS-led.
The group works closely with the London Cancer New Drugs group, the London HIV
treatments group, and the London Procurement Programme Pharmacy and
Medicines Management group. The group also has good working relationships with
other similar NHS review bodies.
4. Membership
The LNDG looks to ensure the following membership:



Senior pharmacy representation from a commissioner and a provider
organisation from each sector across the NHS in London
Specialist medical and pharmacological input
Appropriate editorial representation from pharmacists responsible for content
delivery through E&SE England Specialist Pharmacy Services
5. Meetings and expectations of members
The LNDG meets approximately 4 times annually in central London, with meetings
lasting around 2 hours; meeting dates are available 1 year in advance. Intermittent
teleconferences are also held.
Members of the group are expected to contribute to discussions on work
programmes, documents and other issues. Members of the group are also expected
to contribute outside meetings by commenting on documents produced by the
specialist pharmacy services team; there is, however, no expectation upon members
to write drug reviews since all such work is undertaken by specialist pharmacy
services.
Ben Rehman / David Webb
Director, London Medicines Information Service / Director, East and South East Specialist Pharmacy Services
[email protected]
Sept 2011