Drug and Therapeutics Group (DTG)

When preparing a document for submission ensure that:  

It is on the correct Trust template: 

• LUHFT Clinical Guideline Template 
• LUHFT SOP Template 
• LUHFT Clinical Pathway Template 
• LUHFT Policy Template
• Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) search 'template'
• Prescription Chart Template.

It adheres to Trust document standards: 

• Quality Assurance Checklist for Procedural Document Development 
• Prescription Chart Standards.

More information

Documents for DTG approval should be submitted to jennifer.bellis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk and fatimah.akbar@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.

Book in to DTG’s document clinic if you need further information or support with your document.

Guides

• How to guide for documents
• Types of documents.

Check existing approvals

The new medicine (or use of an approved medicine for a new indication) may already be approved at Integrated Care Board (ICB) level, national level or Trust level. Make sure any existing approval matches exactly how you plan to use the medicine. 

ICB approvals can be checked in the Cheshire and Merseyside Formulary.

National approvals can be checked here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance.

Check NHSE clinical commissioning policies Some NHSE approved medicines are only mentioned in clinical commissioning policies (e.g. icatibant is only mentioned here: Treatment-of-acute-attacks-in-hereditary-angiodema-adult.pdf, there is no corresponding NICE TA).  

If in doubt or to check:  

• Whether there are any existing organisation approvals 
• The process for the approval of new medicines (including unlicensed equivalents) when there is a supply issue 
• The process for the approval of a new formulation of an existing medicine for a single patient (e.g. needs liquid for administration via a tube).

Contact fatimah.akbar@liverpoolft.nhs.uk or jennifer.bellis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk

If you still think you need to make a new medicine application 

Consider who will fund the medicine – ICB, NHSE or directorate. For high-cost drugs always consider submitting an individual funding request (IFR) to Cheshire & Mersey ICB or NHSE. To find out whether a NICE approved medicine is ICB or NHSE commissioned, go to the ‘Tools and resources’ section of the relevant TA webpage, select ‘Resource impact summary report’ and head to the ‘Key information’ table. 

ICB Individual Funding Request 

Read the clinical exceptionality criteria before starting the application: Forms and applications - NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.

The completed form must be submitted to jennifer.bellis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk and fatimah.akbar@liverpoolft.nhs.uk for review and requires DTG Chair’s signature before it can be submitted to ICB IFR team 

NHSE Individual Funding Request 

Read the clinical exceptionality criteria before starting the application: NHS England » Individual requests for funding 

The application must be completed by the lead consultant via the Apollo portal apollo.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/home and requires approval by an MDT and either the Medical Director or DTG Chair. Contact jennifer.bellis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk and fatimah.akbar@liverpoolft.nhs.uk to arrange DTG Chair’s approval. 

Trust Individual Funding Request 

Apply to DTG; the application must be accompanied by HOO and CD approvals https://forms.office.com/e/4HYiyLBsUK. The DTG team receive an automatic notification when this form has been submitted and will process the application as soon as possible.  

Check existing approvals 

The new medicine (or use of an approved medicine for a new indication) may already be approved at Integrated Care Board (ICB) level, national level or Trust level. Make sure any existing approval matches exactly how you plan to use the medicine. 

ICB approvals can be checked in the Cheshire and Merseyside Formulary.

National approvals can be checked here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance.

Check NHSE clinical commissioning policies Some NHSE approved medicines are only mentioned in clinical commissioning policies (e.g. icatibant is only mentioned here: Treatment-of-acute-attacks-in-hereditary-angiodema-adult.pdf, there is no corresponding NICE TA).  

If in doubt or to check:  

• Whether there are any existing organisation approvals 

• The process for the approval of new medicines (including unlicensed equivalents) when there is a supply issue

Contact fatimah.akbar@liverpoolft.nhs.uk or jennifer.bellis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk

If you still think you need to make a new medicine application 

Consider who will fund the medicine – ICB, NHSE or directorate. For high-cost drugs always consider ICB or NHSE. To find out whether a NICE approved medicine is ICB or NHSE commissioned, go to the ‘Tools and resources’ section of the relevant TA webpage, select ‘Resource impact summary report’ and head to the ‘Key information’ table.  

ICB Cohort Request (sometimes referred to as a business case) 

Forms and applications - NHS Cheshire and Merseyside  

Collaboration with other providers in Cheshire & Merseyside is essential – find out if they support the application and how many of their patients they predict will be eligible if it is approved 

The completed ‘Application for New Medicines’ form must be submitted to jennifer.bellis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk and fatimah.akbar@liverpoolft.nhs.uk for review and requires DTG Chair’s signature before it can be submitted to the Area Prescribing Group  team. It will subsequently be reviewed at APG new medicines subgroup (NMSG) and a decision will be made about whether to prioritise it. 

NHSE Cohort Request

An NHSE clinical commissioning policy would need to be developed see NHS commissioning » Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG). Contact the jennifer.bellis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk and fatimah.akbar@liverpoolft.nhs.uk for more information. 

Trust Cohort Request 

Apply to DTG; the application must be accompanied by HOO and CD approvals https://forms.office.com/e/4HYiyLBsUK. The DTG team receive an automatic notification when this form has been submitted and will process the application as soon as possible.   

• MCEG Approvals May 2026
• MCEG Approvals April 2026
• MCEG Approvals March 2026
• MCEG Approvals February 2026

CMAPG June 2026

CMAPG May 2026

CMAPG April 2026

CMAPG March 2026

CMAPG February 2026

DTG Clinical Document Receipt & Approval Timelines 26/27

DTG New Drug Application & Follow Up Report Timelines 26/27