Medicines Optimisation Service

Medicines Optimisation Service – General Practice
1. Service Aims
The Medicines Optimisation Service aims to ensure the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of medicines across general practice, supporting both clinicians and patients in achieving the best possible health outcomes. The service seeks to:
  • Improve the quality and safety of prescribing.
  • Reduce unwarranted variation in medicines use.
  • Optimise cost-effectiveness and minimise waste.
  • Enhance patient understanding, adherence, and shared decision-making.
  • Contribute to the sustainability and efficiency of primary care services.
2. Service Objectives
  • Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with complex needs, polypharmacy, or long-term conditions.
  • Identify and manage high-risk prescribing and medicines-related safety issues.
  • Support deprescribing and medicines reconciliation, particularly post-discharge or following care transitions.
  • Provide clinical advice and decision support to prescribers in line with NICE, NHS England, and local formulary guidance.
  • Deliver education and training sessions for practice teams to strengthen prescribing governance.
  • Engage with patients to promote self-management, understanding of their treatment, and adherence strategies.
3. Key Service Components
  • Clinical Medication Reviews: Focused on high-priority cohorts such as frail elderly patients, those with multimorbidity, or patients on multiple medicines.
  • Prescribing Support: Audits, feedback, and recommendations aligned to evidence-based guidelines.
  • Cost-Effectiveness Initiatives: Identification of opportunities for switches to clinically appropriate and cost-effective alternatives.
  • Patient Engagement: Structured discussions to support shared decision-making and improve medicines adherence.
  • System Collaboration: Close working with PCNs, community pharmacists, secondary care, and wider healthcare teams to ensure seamless medicines use across care pathways.
4. Outcomes and Benefits
  • Improved patient safety through reduction of medicines-related harm.
  • Increased patient satisfaction and empowerment in managing their own care.
  • Reduction in inappropriate polypharmacy and high-risk prescribing.
  • Demonstrable savings and efficiencies in prescribing budgets.
  • Strengthened governance and assurance for practices and PCNs.
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