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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has responded to today’s study* on care homes’ use of medicines. The study outlined that drug errors occurred in seven out of 10 care home residents.
John Turk NPA Chief Executive said: “The safe management of medicines in care homes is vital as many residents will take complex regimes of medicines for a variety of long term conditions. These vulnerable patients deserve close attention from the NHS.â€
“Health professionals, including pharmacists are working hard to provide good care, but they need a clear framework in which to operate. We would urge Government to ensure local care is better co-ordinated by the NHS and to involve pharmacy in local planning and implementation.â€
“Pharmacists are the experts on medicines and can help patients and carers by providing clinical advice to patients as well as advice and training to care home staff on the way systems operate. We would recommend that local PCTs commission care home support services from local pharmacists to provide direct patient input and systems advice to care home staff, lamentably the commissioning of care home support from community pharmacy is currently very low.â€
Notes
*Care homes’ use of medicines study: prevalence, causes and potential harm of medication errors in care homes for older people Qual Safe Health Care 2009; 18: 341-6.