Who to contact for technical, clinical, legal and sales enquiries

• Healthcare professionals
• Manufacturers
• Patients or members of the public
• Requesting copies and distribution of BNF publications

Healthcare professionals: Enquiries about clinical content

Due to the constraints of the publication schedule, we ask that before submitting a query relating to the clinical content of BNF publications, you:

• Check the appropriate reference sources, and our FAQs section;
• Relate the enquiry to the specific scenario encountered and provide evidence to support your view where appropriate;
• Note that the BNF editors are not able to provide:
• Background papers or lists of references;
• Information on areas that are outside the scope of the BNF (e.g. foreign medicines);
• Comments or advice on individual treatment (see FAQs for further details).

The email address for enquiries about clinical content is editor@bnf.org

Manufacturers

We ask that manufacturers consult the information below before contacting the BNF editorial team. BNF editors will not discuss content with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry by telephone.

1. Deadlines for submission

To allow time for editorial processes, a cut-off date for the submission of new information and change notifications is set before publication. Information received after this date will be considered for the following edition. We receive increasing volumes of information immediately before each deadline and therefore recommend that you submit completed product information as soon as it is available.

We cannot confirm or guarantee any inclusion or amendment until after publication. If the launch date of a product falls significantly later than a deadline, that product will be considered for the following edition.

Generally, deadlines fall 2–3 months before publication. Please contact us at the email address below for this year’s deadlines.

2. Information to send

• Changes to existing products: (e.g. SPC updates, ‘Dear Healthcare Professional’ letters, etc.) must be received by the deadlines for that edition
• New products

To consider listing a new product, we will initially require the following:

• Copy of the latest SPC (approved version only, NOT draft) or data card;
• Launch date;
• Basic NHS price of all available pack sizes;
• Detailed description of dosage form (colour, tablets scored etc.) if not on SPC;
• Prescribing status: Prescription-only medicine (POM), Pharmacy (P), General Sales List (GSL) item or a medical device?
• Is the item marketed directly to consumers?
• NHS status: is the item reimbursable through the NHS scheme?
• Black triangle status (subject to CHM post-marketing surveillance?)
• Confirmation of which company will provide medical information for U.K. clinicians, including MI contact number and generic email address.

Pricing information: Prices in BNF publications are obtained from the NHSBS Prescription service (formerly the PPD) via the DM+D service (http://dmd.medicines.org.uk) and represent a ‘snapshot’ in time: please refer to How to Use the BNF for more information. To ensure accurate prices are reflected in the BNF, manufacturers must update product prices with the DM+D via the ‘In Demand’ service.

3. Where to send information:

The email address to send product information or related manufacturer enquiries is manufacturerinfo@bnf.org

or by post to: BNF, 1 Lambeth High Street, London, SW1 7JN

Information for patients and the public

BNF publications are constructed to support healthcare professionals in making decisions about the effective and safe use of medicines; information in our publications is not designed for use by patients or members of the public. Furthermore, although the BNF aims to give the best possible advice on treatment, there are sometimes special circumstances when a healthcare professional may decide to deviate from this advice.

We regret that we are unable to comment on individual cases and we cannot enter into correspondence with patients (or their relatives). These matters are best dealt with by properly qualified healthcare professionals who are familiar with all the circumstances surrounding the case. If you have questions about medicines, we recommend you refer them to your doctor or local pharmacist.

Requesting copies and distribution of BNF publications

The UK health departments distribute BNFs to NHS doctors, dental surgeons, pharmacists, non-medical prescribers, and community pharmacies.

In England, BNFs are mailed individually to the above healthcare professionals; for queries or changes relating to mailed BNFs, contact the DH Publication Orderline on 0300 123 1002.

In Scotland, email

nss.psd-bnf@nhs.net

In Wales, contact the Business Services Centre on (01495) 332 000.

In Northern Ireland, email

ni.bnf@hscni.net

For any other enquiries relating to purchasing copies or subscribing to BNF print and digital publications: http://www.pharmpress.com/

PharmAid

Printed BNFs, even those that are 6-12 months old, are much in demand in many developing countries. The PharmAid scheme of the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association dispatches old BNFs to Commonwealth pharmacies. Old BNFs are collected annually.

For further information please go to

http://www.commonwealthpharmacy.org/about/projects/pharmaid

or email admin@commonwealthpharmacy.org