Medicines Management Waste Campaign 2014

Jennifer Bartlett – Senior Medicines Management AdviserNicola Swindell – Medicines Management Team Co-ordinator

Helen Burgess – Clinical Lead for Medicines Optimisation

Background

DoH estimates that unused medicines cost the NHS around £300 million every year, with an £110m worth of medicine returned to pharmacies, £90m worth of unused prescriptions being stored in homes and £50m worth of medicines disposed of by Care Homes. This equates to approx £800k for South CCG each year based on population.

Safety issues•If medicines are not taken, patients do not receive the intended health benefits. •Health issues are then likely to worsen and further demands made upon health services as a result.•Stockpiling of unused/unwanted medicines are a danger to other members of the family in the patient’s homes.

Wasted medicines are EVERYONE’S responsibility.

The South Manchester CCG PlanCommunity pharmacies – to contact patients to check which items are required each time and stamp this has been done.Practices – to NOT accept prescription requests from pharmacies which do not indicate that the patient has been contacted.If this hasn’t been done – to contact patients themselves.Patients – to be made more aware of repeat prescribing systems & the consequences of waste .

Community Pharmacies responsibilities•South CCG has written to all Community Pharmacies in South Manchester explaining that from January 2014, South practices will only be accepting prescription requests if it is clear that the patient/carer has been contacted.•On the odd occasion where it has not been possible to contact the patient/carer, the pharmacy must clearly state this. •The practice will then review the request and decide it if is appropriate to issue.

GP Practices responsibilities•To ensure that all requests from Community Pharmacies have been stamped to indicate the patient/carer has been contacted.•To contact patient/carer if a request has not been stamped.•To record frequent incidents of Community Pharmacies failing to contact patient/carer. Any concerns should be fed back to the pharmacy and Medicines Management team to be looked into and resolved.

Patients/Carers responsibilitiesAn information campaign will inform patients/carers to •Let your GP or Pharmacist know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines •Check what medicines you still have at home before re-ordering •Discuss your medication with your GP or Pharmacist on a regular basis •Think carefully before ticking all the boxes on your repeat prescription forms and only tick those you really need •If you don’t need the medicine please don’t order it! If you need the medicine in the future you can still request it. •Even if you never open them, once medicines have left the Pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else. •Don't stockpile medication - it is a safety risk for children and others who might take them. •Ensure your GP and local pharmacy have your up to date contact details.

South CCG Waste Campaign •Materials will be delivered to practices starting tomorrow (16th January 2014).•Launch date is Weds 23rd January 2014.•A press release will be sent to local free newspapers the week commencing 6th January 2014We need a 3 pronged approach to tackle this problem

Practices + Pharmacies + Patients

Patient information materials include:•Posters for waiting areas.•Stickers for request slips.•A5 leaflets for pharmacy bags and waiting areas.

Examples of the stickers for request slips

Examples of posters and leaflets for patients

STOP BLAMING EACH OTHER!!•All parties need to work together to ensure restricted NHS resources are used to improve health outcomes for the patients of South Manchester and NOT going up in smoke or flushed down the toilet!!•Reducing waste will increase monies to invest in future collaborative working with local Community Pharmacies, which will benefit our local population.•Other CCGs have taken this approach and seen significant reductions in their prescribing cost growth e.g Wigan.

Any questions?