Named Patient Basis

What is "Named-Patient Basis"?

All medications in the UK are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA is the Government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. Manufacturers must obtain marketing authorisation for any medication that they want to sell.

All major medications that are licensed in this country will be found in the Monthly Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS), which is an independently written publication designed as a prescribing guide for general practitioners. Generally, if the medication your doctor wants to prescribe is not in the MIMS, then he will not prescribe it.

However, there is an exception to the rule! Some medications can be prescribed on a "named-patient" basis. This means that, in certain circumstances, your doctor can prescribe this medication because the patient has a special need for the medication.

Reasons why drugs may be supplied on a named-patient basis are:

• A license has not been granted yet due to ongoing clinical trials
• Discontinuations
• Drug shortages
• Temporary supply problems
• Clinical trials
• Special needs of an individual patient

Because none of the natural thyroid hormones are licensed in this country, you will not find this medication in the MIMS and the only way you can obtain this is by your doctor prescribing it on a "named-patient" basis.

If your doctor is willing to give you a prescription for a brand of natural thyroid hormone, you should be able to take it to any High Street pharmacy such as Boots, Lloyds etc. any supermarket pharmacy or local independent pharmacy. Ensure that your doctor has written the name of the medication along with the number of grains required and the wording, "for hypothyroidism" on the prescription. Some wholesalers ask for a "letter of clinical need."

Because natural thyroid hormones are not manufactured in the UK, your chemist will need to find a wholesaler who has a license to import medications on a "named-patient" basis. Here is a list of wholesale pharmacies:

Idis World Medicines, IDIS House, Churchfield Road, Weybridge KT13 8DB
Tel: 01932 824100 Fax: 01932-824200
Email: enquiries@idispharma.com
Website: www.idis.co.uk

Pharmarama International Ltd., Unit 7 Capital Business Park, Manor Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1GW Tel: 020 8238 6770 Fax: 020 8238 6786 Email: enquiries@pharmarama.com
Website: www.pharmarama.com

Mawdsleys Unlicenced Medicines, Unit 4 Crompton Road Business Park, Crompton Road, Doncaster, DN2 4PW
Tel: 01302 553000
Email: info@mawdsleys.co.uk
Website: http://www.mawdsleys.co.uk/unlicensedMedicines.asp
(Your doctor needs to to put "For Hypothyroidism" on the prescription)

UL Medicines Ltd, Hampton House, 3d Regal Way, Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 4YJ
Tel: 01923 204333
Email: info@ulmedicines.co.uk
Website: www.ulmedicines.co.uk

The Specials Laboratory, Unit 1, Regents Drive, Low Prudhoe Industrial Estate, Northumberland NE42 6PX
Tel: 0800 028 4925
Email: orders@specialslab.co.uk
Website: http://www.specialslab.co.uk/
(Letter of clinical need required to say the patient has hypothyroidism but they will dispense the medication as long as this is sent within two weeks)

The HealthXchange Pharmacy, Albert House, South Esplanade, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1AJ
Tel: (+44) 1481 736 736 Fax: (+44) 1481 736 677
Email: pharmacist@healthxchange.com
Website: www.healthxchange.com

Last Updated: 16/06/2010
Review Date 16/06/2013