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Within a primary care setting, you may also come across the MIMS prescribing guide. This is an up‐to‐date prescribing reference for healthcare professionals and it is available both in print and online. MIMS is updated constantly online, to reflect the latest approved prescribing information, along with the addition of new drugs and formulations, and also removes products that are no longer available. The printed version of MIMS is produced quarterly and includes all the updates from the corresponding three months of online updates. MIMS is primarily intended for use by GPs and nurses working within primary care. A subscription is required for nurses who wish to receive the print version. All other prescribing healthcare professionals – such as paramedics, dietitians and physiotherapists – need to subscribe to MIMS to access either the online or print versions. MIMS is a helpful prescribing resource and provides:

 News on changes that affect medicines and prescribing.

 Drug information for branded and generic products, updated daily.

 At‐a‐glance drug comparison tables including dosing and monitoring regimens, available presentations, prices, potential sensitisers and compatible devices.

 Quick‐reference summaries of key clinical guidance from authoritative national bodies, including NICE and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).

 Online drugs shortages tracker showing branded and generic medicines that are out of stock.

 Online visual guides to help you identify, compare, and recommend diabetes and respiratory devices.

Figure 2.3 Home page of MIMS online.

(Source: www.mims.co.uk).

MIMS provides concise summaries of prescribing information for branded and generic products that can be prescribed in the UK, including devices listed in the section on permitted appliances within the Drug Tariff. Drugs that are blacklisted (i.e. not on the Drug Tariff and therefore not prescribable on the NHS) are not listed and no information is given on the unlicensed or off‐label use of drugs.

The print edition of MIMS also includes a selection of the most popular drug reference tables. The full range of tables and drug listings are available online, together with at‐a‐glance summaries of national treatment guidance and helpful visual guides to diabetes and respiratory devices; there is also a prescribing resource centre for specific disease areas. The legal class categories in MIMS are the same as those within the BNF and listed in Table 2.2.