NHS Ayrshire & Arran

From the outset, the team were motivated to reduce inappropriate polypharmacy in a cohort of frail, elderly patients – a branch of individuals who would benefit most from a decline in associated harm – with a focus on de-prescribing inappropriate or unnecessary medications. Further objectives included the development of closer working relationships between the practice clinical pharmacy team and the prescribers in the GP practice, and the  promoted utilisation of the complex patients list which is available to all practices in Ayrshire & Arran to enable them to identify their most frail patients.

GPs conducted a full, holistic review of all medications and identified medications that could be de-prescribed using the principles outlined in Realistic Medicine, while patients were also invited for a face-to-face review or a telephone consultation.