Quick Guide to BNF / BNFc

Get access to the information you need on drugs and medicines.

What is it?

The BNF is the British National Formulary and the BNFc is the British National Formulary for Children. These are the key authoritative, reference texts for information about drugs and medications, provided especially for UK healthcare staff.

How to Access…

Who is it for?

These texts are available for NHS staff and healthcare students.

Log in

The BNF and BNFc are available in a range of formats. You will need login details for some formats but not all.

Keele Staff and Students – use your Keele login details
NHS Staff – use your NHS OpenAthens username / password

Key Formats

Print Book

We hold print versions of the BNF and the BNFc within the Health Library. These are available for reference. You can find the BNF at shelf mark RS125.B7 and the BNFc at shelf mark RJ560.B7.

Medicines Complete (login required)

The BNF and BNFc are available online via the Medicines Complete interface. You will need to log in to access Medicines Complete. More drugs-based texts may be available within Medicines Complete dependent on the subscription of your organisation.

NICE Evidence (freely available)

An online version of both the BNF and BNFc is available via the NICE Evidence website:

Home page for the BNF on the NICE Evidence website

Mobile App

A mobile app is available from the publishers, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. One app contains content to both texts. Search for “BNF Publications” on your App Store. The app is free and no login is required. Please check the terms and conditions for allowed use.

Comments

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What is NHS OpenAthens?

To access our NHS-subscribed, online resources you need a username / password - this is an NHS OpenAthens username / password. OpenAthens is a protocol that allows you to log in to many different online resources using just one username and password. It is a service purchased by the NHS so that all NHS staff can easily access online resources such as ebooks, articles, journals, databases and clinical tools. To register for your NHS OpenAthens username complete the online form . Need more help? For more help you can: Contact your NHS OpenAthens administrator Complete our etutorial: NHS OpenAthens - what's fact or fake? Go to our NHS OpenAthens web page Go to our NHS OpenAthens help page

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