Rationalising record and stock
Working alongside CH staff PIPs allocated time to review MAR charts and consider if medicines could move to PRN (as required) or homely medicines. The staff reported they appreciated dedicated time to discuss things and simplified MAR charts:It sorted out things that we didn’t need any longer and put things a bit more into place, like the PRNs particularly where some people didn’t need it on their MAR charts any longer, … I suppose that had been overlooked which does happen I’m afraid, yes it was useful CH staff_19.Removing no-longer-needed prescriptions and identifying changes in the ordering systems helped reduce workload, ‘Many of the PIPs explained that by regularly attending the care homes, they were able to identify waste and unused stock and could take measures to reduce waste:I spoke a few times with the dispensing pharmacists about errors that came up on the MAR chart etc. we tried to address those issues. I spoke to the appliance contractors not just the Pharmacy, … I had to address it in a really decisive manner PIP_16.One GP highlighted the importance of cost-saving inherent in stock control, In summary, many PIPs were found to take an active lead in reviewing and advising on more efficient medicine systems. However, their efforts to improve systems could be thwarted if either the CH staff or GP team were unwilling, or unable, to adopt new ways of working.