AN INNOVATIVE medication review for patients in care homes which has saved the local NHS £80,000 and the fallout from the cuts is to continue for at least another year.

Residents in care homes in West Leeds have been benefitting from the service, led by specialist pharmacists.

The initial 12-month pilot project, launched in August last year, has now been given the go ahead for at least another year by the NHS Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which includes practices in Horsforth, Rawdon, Yeadon, Menston and Guiseley.

The Care Homes and Medicines Optimisation Implementation Service (CHAMOIS), has involved clinical care home pharmacists working closely with residents and the health and care professionals who look after them.

Since launching last year, just under 500 patients have had their medicines reviewed to ensure that they are receiving the treatment that is most appropriate for treating them.

The reviews have also identified patients requiring additional support for their care, such as assistance from specialised dementia services. The project has also helped reduce the number of care home residents going to hospital.

Helen Whiteside and Nicola Shaw, Clinical Care Home Pharmacists for NHS Leeds West CCG, said: “The project has been really beneficial to care homes, as we have stopped medicines for some patients that were causing them side effects and that means patients are more alert, they can socialise more in care homes, have a better appetite and generally they are feeling much better.

“Side effects that we have prevented will stop patients from going to hospital so we’ve reduced the number of hospital admissions.

“The review has saved the CCG £100,000 and from that we have spent £20,000 on improving and changing patient’s medication.”

Dr Andrew Sixsmith, GP at Thornton Medical Centre, said: “I have an overarching responsibility of two care homes and I’m assured that patients are getting a thorough medication review by a clinical care home pharmacist.

“As a GP the medication review provides two very important elements, quality and safety. Patients in care homes are put on long lists of medication and many of them are not necessary. Some medication may also be doing harm than good to the patient. Quite often we see a number of patients having falls because they’re on medication that is causing them to fall. The clinical care home pharmacists remove medication that is not necessary, change dosage, or formulation which will benefit the patient.”

The clinical care home pharmacists work closely with GPs and care home staff. Where appropriate they also speak to family members and carers of patients to ensure that they are aware of any changes and highlight any concerns in proposed changes to a care home resident’s medication.

The project was a recent finalist in the ‘value and improvement in medicines management’ category at the Health Service Journal’s (HSJ) Value in Healthcare Awards 2014.