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Co-phenylcaine Forte spray: innovative ways of minimising cost

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2013

A Gungadeen*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Y Ramakrishnan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, UK
H C Cocks
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A Gungadeen, Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospitals Sunderland, Kayll Road, Sunderland, SR4 7TP E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate whether multiple-use Co-phenylcaine Forte® spray was more cost-effective than single-use vials.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted to determine the risk of cross-contamination associated with multiple-use topical nasal anaesthetic spray. The costs of multiple-use Co-phenylcaine Forte and single-use co-phenylcaine were compared, and potential savings were calculated. The cost of procuring these drugs from other sources was also examined.

Results:

Switching to multiple-use Co-phenylcaine Forte spray would lead to at least 40 per cent savings if bought from our local retailer. Potential savings of more than 70 per cent could be made if the drugs were procured from sources other than our local distributor.

Conclusion:

Multiple-use Co-phenylcaine Forte spray is safe to use and more cost-effective than single-use vials. This paper illustrates how money can be saved within the National Health Service through changes in drug procurement. Similar cost savings to those calculated for our department could be made in other ENT departments nationally, depending on their annual consumption of co-phenylcaine.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

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References

1Douglas, R, Hawke, L, Wormald, P-J. Topical anaesthesia before nasendoscopy: a randomised controlled trial of co-phenylcaine compared with lignocaine. Clin Otolaryngol 2006;31:33–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Rashid, M, Karagama, YG. Study of microbial spread when using multiple-use nasal anaesthetic spray. Rhinology 2011;49:281–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3ENT Technologies Ltd Online. In: http://www.enttech.com.au/products/co-phenylcaine-forte [6 January 2013]Google Scholar