Polypharmacy, the simultaneous use of multiple medicines by one person, is increasingly common in the UK and worldwide. There is growing awareness of the risks associated with problematic polypharmacy, including hospital admissions, mortality and a decline in physical and cognitive functioning. However, little is known about how to tackle it.
Clinical Pharmacologists at University College London Hospital (UCLH), in collaboration with Clinical Pharmacists, are piloting a dedicated outpatient service for patients with polypharmacy. The aims are to reduce harms associated with over-prescribing and support colleagues in primary care with medicines expertise and a holistic overview of an individual’s medication list.
The speaker will provide an overview of the pilot so far, suggesting ways in which the model could be expanded into a fully integrated service. The session will use a collaborative approach to explore options for transferability and scalability across the UK.
Speaker: Dr Frances Bennett, Specialist Registrar in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Learning objectives:
- Learn about the drivers behind problematic polypharmacy and ways in which they can be improved
- Get insight into the challenges around setting up a polypharmacy service
- Contribute to a wider discussion on ways to develop, enhance and expand existing polypharmacy services
About this event:
The Collaborating for Quality (CQ) exchange set up by the NIHR Imperial Patient Safety Translational Research Centre and Imperial College NHS Trust Improvement Team aims to support research and clinical practice for improved patient safety by connecting researchers, clinicians, managers and experts.
To find out more about the CQ exchange, contact mribeiro@ic.ac.uk.
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