The following advice is only for patients under the Broomfield inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) team who are receiving homecare medication (e.g., Adalimumab, Ustekinumab, Tofacitinib, Upadacitinib, Risankizumab, Mirikizumab, Vedolizumab) for their IBD.
New patients
If you are a new patient to the Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) service and need a repeat prescription to help manage your condition, you will need to request this directly to the IBD team.
To find out more, please continue to read from the ‘What type of prescription is this for’ section.
Existing patients
The process for obtaining homecare prescription is changing. From now on, you will need to request repeat prescriptions of your homecare medication (eg Adalimumab, Ustekinumab, Tofacitinib, Upadacitinib, Risankizumab, Mirikizumab, Vedolizumab) directly from the inflammatory bowel disease team.
The reason for this is because the NHS is now being supplied by multiple homecare companies as opposed to a select few and we need to make sure that your medications are given safely and on time.
What type of prescription is this for?
Funded prescriptions will only cover three to four months of medication. This is with the exception of a maximum of four months for patients taking medication every eight weeks.
We do this to make sure that:
- an up-to-date blood test has been completed and checked within the last three months.
- funding for your medication has not expired.
- you have a follow-up appointment in place before your funding for the medication runs out.
How to request repeat medication
- When you are down to your last two months’ supply of medication you should be thinking about your next repeat.
- Before making your request, if you’re not sure if you have any mediation left to be delivered from your last prescription, please check with your homecare medication provider first using the details listed at the bottom of this page.
- Once you’re ready to ask for your next repeat, make sure that you've had a blood test within the last three months. If not, arrange for one as soon as possible. We cannot re-issue mediation without a blood test. Visit our blood tests page to book one - tests results from tests had outside of the mid and south Essex area need to be shared with us as we don’t have access to their systems.
- Then contact the IBD team to request a new prescription.
If you have additional accessibility needs that may affect your ability to follow this process, please contact the IBD team so we can support you.
Your 12-month review
Every 12 months, we need to review your treatment to decide whether it should continue. We aim to review you between one and three months before your funding is due to expire, as further investigations such as endoscopies, stool tests, or MRI scans may be needed.
If you are asked to provide a stool sample, please hand it in one to two weeks before your appointment.
If your disease is still active and you are benefiting from treatment, we will apply for a further 12 months of funding from your local ICB. If you are in remission, NICE guidance states that you should have a trial without the high-cost drug. However, treatment can be restarted if needed.
Attending your funding appointments
If you are unable to attend a scheduled appointment with us or it’s cancelled or postponed, you must contact the IBD team as soon as possible to rearrange it. This will make sure that you are reviewed before your funding expires. If you are unsure about the timing, please check with the team.
We will not be able to continue your medication beyond the funding expiration date unless we review you in the time frame stated above.
Contact us
You can call the IBD advice line at 0300 443 6036, alternatively you can email mse.meht-ibd-advice@nhs.net. Please note, we cannot respond to emails at this address but we will receive them and action if you request a repeat prescription, appointment or blood test form.
Contact the Homecare medication providers
Sciensus (Imraldi/Amgevita/Humira) – 0333 103 9499.
Lloyds (Pyzchiva/Stelara) – 0345 263 6119.
Alcura (Xeljanz) – 01604 433510.
Calea (Idacio) – 0800 121 8300.
HealthNet (Entyvio/Skyrizi/Rinvoq/Jyseleca) – 0800 083 3060.
