Support for Medicines Optimisation Medicines Optimisation Importance of

Support for Medicines Optimisation

Medicines Optimisation • Importance of Medicines Optimisation • Potential benefits of optimising medicines • Existing investments – WAHT – A&E pharmacists – Practice investment – CCG Pilots • Care home support • Pharmacists in the Primary Healthcare Team

Medication Reviews in Care Homes • Aim – rationalise medication, quantities and provide basic support for the care home staff in relation to medicines • Review of work showed main interventions related to: – – Drugs reviewed/ stopped Cost effective alternatives suggested Quantities synchronised Clinical areas – dressings, emollients, sip feeds, incontinence products. Reviews done in Worcester city – saved £ 191 per patient, through 4713 interventions • Savings identified of between £ 144 - £ 213 per patient.

Saving GP Time • Pharmacist working in practice 120 hours in a month (30 hours per week) – saved a minimum of 15 hours of GP time each week • Work undertaken: (figures based on 1 month activity) – Review of discharge & clinical letters • 247 reviewed. 122 had interventions; 61 of which were contacted by phone. Approximately half the patients were 70 years or older. – Medication reviews • 57 undertaken – Other medication related queries • Cost for practice was £ 2, 760 (at a rate of £ 23 per hour).