Traffic Light System

The Traffic Light System (TLS) is a colour-coded framework designed to provide clear guidance on prescribing responsibilities and commissioning intentions for a range of selected products. It aims to clarify the division of clinical and prescribing responsibilities between specialists and primary care practitioners when a product is prescribed. This system helps ensure that prescribing decisions are made in the most appropriate clinical context, with clear delineation of who holds responsibility for prescribing.

The TLS has been developed in collaboration with clinicians from Doncaster & Bassetlaw, meaning that its guidelines may differ from those established in other regions or by external bodies. The decision-making process for including medicines in the system, or for reclassifying them within the various TLS categories, takes into account several key factors:

• Evidence Base: The scientific evidence supporting the use of the product.
• Clinical Competence and Experience: The level of expertise and experience required to prescribe the product safely.
• Patient Safety: Considerations around the safety of patients when using the product.
• Monitoring and Follow-up: The ongoing requirements for monitoring and patient follow-up that may be necessary due to the nature of the drug or the condition being treated.

Medicines are classified into one of the following categories:

• Red: Products that should only be prescribed by specialists.
• Amber: Products that can be prescribed by general practitioners (GPs), but with guidance or monitoring from specialists.
• Amber with Guidance: Medicines that can be prescribed by GPs, but with specific, structured guidance to ensure safe and effective use.
• Green: Products that are suitable for routine prescribing by GPs with no specialist input required.
• Green with Guidance: Medicines that are generally suitable for GP prescribing, but with additional guidance to optimize safe use.
• Grey: Products that are not recommended for prescribing within the area, often due to limited evidence or alternative options being available.

The classification of each product determines under what conditions it should be prescribed, whether it should be prescribed at all, and any specific guidance or rationale that must be taken into account. The system is regularly reviewed, particularly when new information or guidance about a product becomes available, ensuring that the TLS remains up-to-date and reflects the best clinical practice.

Request for a new TLS or a revision of an existing TLS can be made via the form below: