It appears that I have become somewhat of a magnet for reviewing pocket drug guides, as yet another one has made its way onto my reading list. It is, however, unlikely to make its way onto my book shelf.
Taking the positives first; this is certainly a contemporary drug guide (issued in 2013) and all the contributors are well-established in the medical field. There is a useful section on common street drugs as well as a classification of prescribed medications, and it weighs in considerably lighter than your average JRCALC pocket book. But therein lies the problem.
The aforementioned JRCALC guidelines encompass a wider remit than simply drug administration, and are designed specifically for use in the UK—especially for those paramedics working for an NHS ambulance service. A direct comparison is perhaps a little unfair as this EMS guide was only largely intended to cover pharmacological issues.
Another pertinent distinction is that this drug guide covers a wide spectrum of drugs, which far exceeds the scope of practice for the majority of paramedics registered and working in the UK.
A more credible comparison would be with the British National Formulary (BNF), which is updated every six months to provide guidance on prescribing, dispensing, administering and monitoring medicines widely prescribed in the UK.
Trans-Atlantic differences undoubtedly play a part here, as the editors are all based in the USA and many of the drugs listed are most commonly used in America. Pre-hospital care and the health economy in general is organised differently in America, and I would suggest this drugs guide is better tailored to that system.
A number of pocket drug guides are currently available but for HCPC-registered paramedics working in the UK, this is unlikely to become a central point of reference.