Case Studies

Supporting a consultation into prescription of medications available over the counter

24th Nov 2021

The NHS spent approximately £569 million on prescriptions for medicines for minor conditions, which could have been purchased over the counter (OTC) – this consultation outlined proposals to stop or limit the prescribing of these prescriptions. NHS England commissioned our Medicines Management and Optimisation Team and Communications and Engagement Team to support the consultation.

Supporting Prescribing Improvements on the Isle of Man

24th Nov 2021

NHS hospitals and health service commissioners in England and Wales are legally required to fund treatment with a positive Technology Appraisal (TA) recommendation from The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), usually within three months of publication. On the Isle of Man, similar legislation is not in place so adoption of NICE TAs is not mandatory. However, some have received formal approval and some have been adopted into current practice without formal review. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) of the Isle of Man commissioned MLCSU’s Medicines Management and Optimisation (MMO) Team to scope its current position regarding NICE TAs and how this could be aligned with the Pan-Mersey formulary’s legally mandated position of implementing all positive NICE TAs.

Improving anti-coagulant prescribing in Warrington

24th Nov 2021

Direct oral anti-coagulants (DOAC) have now increased greatly as one treatment choice over the alternative warfarin. This is because they do not require the intense monitoring needed for warfarin. Patients on a DOAC will only require more routine monitoring once a year or every three months, depending on their renal function. Risks that need to be considered with taking a DOAC include under or over coagulation and continuing treatment for longer than necessary. It is important to check that those prescribed for atrial fibrillation (AF) are correctly read-coded to be on the AF register for their practice in order to ensure correct follow up.

Pharmacy Initiatives Supporting COVID-19 Pandemic Response

24th Nov 2021

Production of shared guidance and PMO Pharmacy leadership for End of Life Care, Care Homes (North West Cell) and website information.

Helping Patients Get The Most Benefit From Their Medicines

24th Nov 2021

We worked with NHS Greater Preston and NHS Chorley and South Ribble CCGs to give patients a greater understanding of their medicines. We used resources from the Me and My Medicines campaign developed in Leeds. The campaign includes The Medicines Communication Charter and encourages patients and their carers to ask questions about their medicines to help them get the most benefit.

Medicines Safety Assurance Tool (MSAT)

24th Nov 2021

National organisations such as NHS England, NICE and MHRA share safety alerts and good practice guides to minimise harm from medication errors. Commissioners and clinical leads need systematic ways of assessing medicines safety and engaging with providers across their population. There is considerable scope in primary care and across the interface with secondary care for consistent and assured implementation of safety alerts.

Improving patient safety with face-to-face medication reviews at a Cheshire GP practice

24th Nov 2021

Western Avenue Medical Centre in Chester, with a patient population of just under 4,000, was keen to increase patient safety by conducting face-to-face medication reviews with patients.

Improving patient care and reducing costs with a polypharmacy review

24th Nov 2021

Birmingham South Central Clinical Commissioning Group commissioned our pharmacist-led Polypharmacy Review Service to carry out a three-year polypharmacy review starting October 2016. This continued after the CCG merged with Birmingham CrossCity and Solihull CCGs to form Birmingham and Solihull CCG in April 2018.

Improving the repeat ordering process to reduce medicines waste in Warrington

24th Nov 2021

The increasing cost of drugs and amount of medicines waste within the NHS due to over-ordering of medicines, stockpiling and unused medicines was raised by our CCG clients. Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) asked our Medicines Management and Optimisation (MMO) team were asked to support reductions in medicines waste. We decided to test whether patients ordering their own repeat prescription directly from the GP practice rather than a third party ordering on their behalf would improve safety and reduce medicines waste.

Introducing patient-led repeat ordering of medicines in Wirral

24th Nov 2021

Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was wasting an estimated £2.2million every year on unused or partially used medication. The CCG asked our Medicines Management and Optimisation (MMO) team to implement changes to the way repeat medicines were ordered locally. The aim was to reduce the amount of wasted medicines and to improve patient safety issues due to stockpiling medication.

Optimisation of inhaled corticosteroids for COPD patients in West Cheshire

24th Nov 2021

RightCare data for West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) published in 2016 showed high incidences of flu and pneumonia and high levels of prescribing spend on inhaled corticosteroids (routinely within the top 10 cost drugs for each practice). Furthermore, West Cheshire CCG prescribing costs for tiotropium were the highest in England. This project set out to improve patient care by optimising the prescribing of inhaled corticosteroids in COPD patients.

Wirral care home medication review leading to improved pharmaceutical care

24th Nov 2021

Medicines wastage in England has been estimated to cost £300million each year. Of this, £24million is medicines disposed of unused by care homes. To tackle this, we decided to test the effectiveness of an intensive care home medication review.

Supporting a successful launch of proxy medicines ordering

18th Nov 2021

A national programme to support the roll out of proxy ordering - which allows care homes to order online repeat medication on behalf of their residents - has been launched to help reduce the current high workload of primary care and care home staff. The Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) deployed extra pharmacy staff to work with GP practices and care homes to set up a local system.

Electronic repeat dispensing in Halton and St Helens

18th Nov 2021

MLCSU Medicines Management and Optimisation services were approached to support with the implementation of NHS England’s Electronic Repeat Dispensing service across Halton CCG and St Helens CCG. The aim was to increase the uptake and understanding of Electronic Prescription Services (EPS) and Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) to assist with the implementation of NHS England’s project in this specific area.

Improving medicines safety in care homes

4th Nov 2021

NHS England and NHS Improvement commissioned MLCSU to deliver its Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes pilot project across The Black Country and West Birmingham Sustainability and Transformation Partnership

Incontinence medication reviews offer major patient benefits

4th Nov 2021

The long-term prescribing of anticholinergic drugs has been associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, dementia and mortality. Clinicians have been advised to consider offering patients 'drug holidays' for short periods to assess whether there has been any natural remission of the condition, whether the drugs are still effective and whether there is a continued need for treatment.

Sue Ryder Medicines Governance Review

3rd Nov 2021

The Sue Ryder charitable organisation has a portfolio of 10 services, one hub site and central support delivering palliative and neurological care services across the UK. In early 2020, the organisation's clinical governance group approached MLCSU to scope out what support and advice we could offer in terms of medicines management and medicines governance across the organisation.

Electronic Repeat Dispensing: Increasing Uptake

3rd Nov 2021

During the COVID 19 pandemic, NHS England required an immediate increase in the uptake of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD). This case study outlines the response and support provided to primary care.

Enabling increased prescribing collaboration across Merseyside

13th May 2021

MLCSU’s Liverpool medicines management and optimisation (MMO) team manages the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee (PM APC), established in 2013. Wirral CCG, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH), Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral Community Trust became members of PM APC in 2018.

Developing Community Pharmacy Payment Systems Gibraltar Health Authority

11th May 2021

The Gibraltar Health Authority were keen to improve the timeliness and accuracy of their local Pharmacy Payment Systems. MLCSU were commissioned to develop a bespoke system to improve efficiency and accuracy.