About RDTC
Welcome to the Regional Drug & Therapeutics Centre (RDTC)
In the ever changing environment of the modern NHS, provision of high quality information and expert advice is key to the commissioning and delivery of safe, clinically excellent and cost-effective healthcare. This applies across the NHS from individual GP practices through NHS Trusts to the specialist network level.
The unique blend of services and proactive support provided by the Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre allows knowledge and expertise to be shared across stakeholders reducing duplication of effort and facilitating best and equitable use of limited resources.
Staff within the centre have responded to the challenges posed by changes in NHS structure with their usual dedication and professionalism and we are proud to work alongside them.
The centre as a whole continually strives to provide the best services possible, and will seek to clarify and meet the needs of evolving organisations, whilst continuing to work in partnership with existing commissioners and service providers.
Given our longevity, skills and experience we have developed a reputation as an authoritative, independent source of high-quality information and advice, trusted by medicines and pharmacy teams, and healthcare professionals across the North of England.
Background
The Centre was established as collaboration between Newcastle University and the Northern Regional Health Authority in 1991. In 1994, NHS boundary changes allowed the centre to increase its activities to cover the Northern and Yorkshire Region. Since the abolition of Regional Health Authorities in 1996, the Centre has been managed as a partnership with Primary Care Organisations and other stakeholders.
We are a multi-disciplinary team, comprising of pharmacists, scientists, data analysts and support staff. We are a non commercial, not for profit NHS organisation hosted by the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for employing all of the staff.
We are NICE accredited and our team are embedded in regional and local decision-making groups. This means we are ideally placed to support integrated care systems (ICSs) with complex analysis of medicines use and outcomes.
Services
The RDTC delivers a broad range of services relating to prescribing and the use of medicines, which include:
- Prescribing Analysis and Support Service
- Medicines Advice Service
- Regional Yellow Card Centre Northern & Yorkshire
We are also active in education and training and in research relating to all aspects of medicines and therapeutics, with a particular focus on the safe and effective utilisation of medicines, management of poisoning, prevention of adverse drug reactions and the appropriate use of medicines during pregnancy.