Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

PL CNO (2004)1: Change in names of certain medicinal substances

  • Document type:
    Professional Letter - Chief Nursing Officer
  • Author:
    Department of Health, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
  • Published date:
    19 March 2004
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Gateway reference:
    2004
  • Series number:
    PL CNO (2004)1, equivalent to
  • Pages:
    6
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown

This letter notifies recipients of a programme of action, in the interests of patient safety, to achieve consistency in the naming of medicinal substances.

Currently both British Approved Names (BANs) and recommended International Non-Proprietary Names (rINNs) are in use in the UK and for some substances these names differ, giving rise to confusion and the risk of medication error. Since 1 December 2003, where the names differ the rINN is the correct name. The key actions needed are:

  • prescribers and dispensers are asked, where BANs and rINNs differ, to use rINNs by 30 June 2004. This date has been agreed in consultation with stakeholder groups and should provide sufficient time for medical and pharmacy software systems to be updated;
  • all healthcare professionals who prescribe, dispense or administer medicines are asked to take particular care to avoid the risk of medication errors during the transition period;
  • Primary Care Trust Directors of Public Health, Medical Directors of NHS Trusts, PCT Chief Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Advisers, General Practitioners, Hospital Chief Pharmacists and Directors of Nursing are asked to consider whether any additional local action may be necessary to minimise the risk of medication error during the transition period, including issuing briefing material about the name changes to staff;
  • prescribers and dispensers are asked to inform their patients (and where appropriate their carers) when the names of the medicines on their prescriptions and dispensed medicines change.

Additional links

Ordering publications

Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.

Help viewing PDFs

Help viewing PDFs

Useful tips to ensure you get the most from PDFs and the free Reader program. Topics covered include accessibility, troubleshooting and searching files.

Additional links

Access keys