Cegedim has been made aware of an issue relating to age-related prescribing precautions not displaying in Vision when prescribing to neonatal patients under 1 month of age. For example, METOCLOPRAMIDE 10mg tablets - Contra-indicated under 1year, precaution under 20 years.
This presents a clinical safety risk that may have implications for patient care. There is a risk that a neonate could be prescribed a drug that is inappropriate at this age because the prescriber is not shown an age-related precaution. Some mitigation for this risk is currently available as prescribing at this age would be unusual in primary care, and more likely to occur in a specialist setting (at least the initiation of the medication would be). Additionally, if a clinician was prescribing to this age group, they would usually be doing so with reference to detailed prescribing information such as the BNF or drug manufacturer’s SPC because it is a high-risk group (due to dosing complexities etc).
As additional mitigation, we are currently working on a solution that will implement the display of a warning in Vision advising that age-related prescribing precautions are not available when prescribing to neonatal patients under 1 month of age and that prescribers should consult alternative reference material when prescribing to patients in the neonatal period.
In the meantime, we would ask that practices are mindful of the fact that age-related prescribing precautions are not displayed in Vision when prescribing to neonates.
Cegedim Healthcare Solutions apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Many thanks for your co-operation with this matter.
If you require any further information, please contact the Cegedim UK Head of Clinical Safety at richard.ellis-gibson@visionhealth.co.uk
