FOI 2025/1314

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from NHS GREATER MANCHESTER INTEGRATED CARE BOARD relating to Continence and Stoma Care Formularies. Please be as specific as possible in your response to all questions
1. Does your organisation have an active Ostomy (stoma) or Continence Care Formulary? If so, please share copies of both formularies, including the full list of products?
2. What NHS organisations are they applicable to?
3. When was the formulary start date, and when will it end or is expected to be renewed?
4. What is the primary objective of the formulary? If this is to deliver cost-improvement/savings, please quantify what savings the formulary has delivered to your organisation each year since it was active?
5. Which part of your organisation benefits from any Formulary savings?
6. What is the process for renewal?
7. Where new, innovative products are launched while the formulary is live, what is the process for reviewing these and adding to the formulary?
8. Other than cost, how are outcomes measured and which outcomes are measured when assessing the effectiveness of the formulary?
9. Are stoma bags included within your formularies?
10. Who are the lead clinical stakeholder(s) responsible for the formularies – name and job role please?
11. Who are the lead nonclinical stakeholder(s) responsible for the formularies – name and job role please?
12. How is formulary compliance measured by healthcare professionals in your organisation?

1. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does not have an active Ostomy (stoma) or Continence Care Formulary. The medicines formulary for Greater Manchester may be found at https://www.greatermanchesterformulary.nhs.uk/default.asp
2. The Greater Manchester Medicines Management Group (GMMMG) formulary covers all NHS organisations within the Greater Manchester area.
3. The formulary is a ‘live’ document and so is continuously reviewed.
4. The stated aim of the formulary is on the website on the home page – “The GMMMG formulary ensures that patients receive seamless care across the primary-secondary care interface and reduces the need for switching programmes.”
5. Any savings made as a result of following the formulary will lie in the prescribing budget of the organisation concerned.
6. The document is a ‘live’ document and so is continually being renewed. Requests for inclusion of new products should follow the procedure found at this link – Greater Manchester Joint Formulary – GMMMG
7. Please see question 6
8. Outcomes regarding the effectiveness of the Formulary are measured through tracking the use of certain groups of drugs such as those on the Do Not Prescribe list, Medicines of Limited Clinical Value, High Cost items, Over The Counter Medicines , Blood Glucose Test strips, Red drugs and Amber Medicines . Action is taken to check if prescribing is appropriate and in line with local and national guidelines.
9. No
10. All clinicians and non-clinicians working in specific areas contribute to GMMMG proposals and decisions. Contact details for GMMMG are here – Contact – GMMMG
11. Please see question 10
12. See response to Q.8.