News summary

First national medicines management pilot sites announced by Government

The first 26 pilot schemes to help patients get the most out of medicines under the national medicines management programme have been announced. These are the first schemes in a £30m plan which will lead to every primary care group and trust in England having a pharmacy-based medicines management programme by 2004. Each of the 26 schemes will receive £75,000 in the coming year.

The sites cover every NHS region with a mix of urban, semi-urban and rural locations and will be supported by the Medicines Management Project Team working closely with the National Primary Care Development Team.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Hazel Blears said: “These schemes will help patients get the maximum benefit from their medicines while stopping NHS waste. They will make the best use of pharmacists’ skills, not only to help patients provide advice on their medicines but also support and advice to local general practitioners. ... It will mean pharmacists work more closely with GPs as part of the primary care team to deliver real improvements to prescribing and health care.”

The announcement of the pilots has been welcomed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Its President, Marshall Davies, said: “Too many people suffer avoidable side effects and complications from the improper use of their medicines. This programme, and that being carried out by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, will enable pharmacists to provide more advice to patients, helping them to gain maximum benefit from their medicines.”

See also News feature

Medicines management pilot sites

The 26 medicines management sites are:

• Northern and Yorkshire — Carlisle and District PCT, West Cumbria PCT, North East Leeds PCG, Huddersfield Central PCG
• North West — Bootle and Litherland PCT, Southport and Formby PCT, Eastern Cheshire PCG
• Trent — North East Derbyshire PCT, Newark and Sherwood PCT, South East Sheffield PCT
• West Midlands — Coventry East PCG, Stratford and District PCG, Birmingham South West PCG
• London — Bexley PCT, Croydon PCGs, Teddington, Twickenham and Hamptons PCT
• Eastern — Huntingdonshire PCT, North Peterborough PCT, Broadland PCG, Great Yarmouth PCT
• South East — Channel PCG, West Southampton and Eastleigh North PCGs, Southampton City PCT
• South West — Exeter PCT, Mendip PCT, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCG

Back to Top