Pharmacists to 'cut care home medicines'

[Northerner]

NHS England is planning to fund the recruitment of 240 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to work in care homes to try to cut down on unnecessary medicines taken by the residents.

Care home residents often have one or more long-term health conditions, with some prescribed 10 or more medicines.

Trials have shown that pharmacists reviewing medicines reduced their use and improved patients' quality of life.

In one trial, an annual drug cost saving of £249 per patient was seen.

That pilot scheme took place in East and North Hertfordshire across 37 care homes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43404016

 

[Amigo]

NHS England is planning to fund the recruitment of 240 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to work in care homes to try to cut down on unnecessary medicines taken by the residents.

Care home residents often have one or more long-term health conditions, with some prescribed 10 or more medicines.

Trials have shown that pharmacists reviewing medicines reduced their use and improved patients' quality of life.

In one trial, an annual drug cost saving of £249 per patient was seen.

That pilot scheme took place in East and North Hertfordshire across 37 care homes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43404016

That’s actually an excellent initiative. So many residents stay on unnecessary meds for years, some of which badly interact with each other and residents even come out of hospital on medication that isn’t then reviewed. My own mother did and it caused her problems. I had to intervene when I realised why she was almost permanently asleep!

If it saves money that’s great but I’m more interested in improving quality of life.

 

[mikeyB]

I agree with Amigo wholeheartedly. Older folk present with ailments, and just get put on treatment. Can’t sleep? Here’s some tablets. Not eating? Here’s some tablets. Before you know it, folk are on a dozen tablets for things that carers can’t remember, but carry on dutifully. Hospitals are at fault, so are GPs. If the pharmacists can move in and shout sense, then all power to them.

 

[trophywench]

A local GP well known at Uni of Warwick Medical School did a trial of this at a number of local nursing homes. His trial was restricted to those diagnosed as being in the last 12 months of their lives but he told us some doctors were deciding the person's chol was too high and instigating statins, or increasing the dose if they already took them - which really is pretty pointless under the circs.

If whatever it was DID improve their remaining days then that was fine, BUT......

 

[Drummer]

My poor uncle was prescribed laxatives for when he needed them. When he went into a care home he was given them every day and became incontinent - it was supposed to be a strong once only dose.
One of my cousins went to visit and found him in a dreadful state, gave the manager a real rocket and as soon as he was in a fit condition she took him home and got the family in to look after him until he could be found a new place.