Improvement reports
Studies report a reduction in inappropriate polypharmacy, errors, and cost achieved by pharmacist input in care homes. In addition, a pharmacist can identify gaps and lead on targeted actions in key therapeutic areas to support the provision of high quality care and safety for care home residents.
Safety policy
This document, produced by Aneurin Bevan Health Board, outlines a review process for patients on 10 or more medications. It includes the NO TEARS tool to aid medication review and includes locally developed review processes.
Other tools and resources
The National Care Forum is an organisation that aims to support and promote high quality care in not-for profit care facilities. They have put together a number of free resources to help with medication safety, including practical tools and guides for use by patients, staff and employers.
Academic papers
This important, large study of care home residents identified a high incidence of medication errors in care home residents and explores underlying reasons and potential solutions for these.
Inquiries and reports
Safety of medicines in the care home was a cross-sector partnership project, funded by the Department of Health, which aimed to improve the medicines pathway for residents in care homes.
Improvement reports
This improvement report documents the development of a medication review tool, based on the evidence based “STOPP” (screening tool of older persons’ potentially inappropriate prescriptions) for routine use with elderly patiens across all sections of care.
Academic papers
This paper defines our current understanding of appropriate prescribing and outlines the potential hazards of over-prescribing for older people, while acknowledging the benefits of modern pharmacological treatment.
Improvement reports
This Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust project aimed to improve staff perception of patient safety, help service users to feel safe on the ward and improve medication safety.
Academic papers
This Institute for Healthcare Improvement article uses the case of an older patient taking multiple medications to summarise the evidence-based literature about improving medication use and withdrawing specific drugs and drug classes
