More than half of older people may be prescribed too many medicines, and are not taking them as prescribed, according to GPs.

According to research published today in Pharmacy Voice's 'Dispensing Health in Later Life' document, GPs believe more than half of their older patients would benefit from taking fewer medicines, eight out of ten 10 are not confident their older patients are taking their medicines as prescribed, and nine out of 10 would like more support from community pharmacy. People over 75 are thought to account for at least 45 per cent of the £8.9 billion annual prescription cost.

The foreword to Dispensing Health in Later Life is supported by key GP and primary care organisation, NHS Alliance and Care England, which represents care homes. It makes three recommendations:

• People over 75 and taking more than four medicines should have access to regular MURs, ideally every six months, and immediately after hospital discharge. The cap on the number of funded MURs should be reviewed and GPs should do more to make patients aware of MURs
• National organisations representing general practice and community pharmacy should work together and with some urgency on how to improve collaboration, making sure people are advised by the right healthcare professional, at the right time, and in the right place
• Greater commitment to improved information sharing, including giving pharmacy professionals secure access to both read and add clinical information to people’s summary health care records, with their consent.

Professor Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, said: “Community pharmacy and general practice are increasingly working more closely together, helping relieve some of the extreme pressures on GPs. We would like to develop that collaboration further. Community pharmacy teams can already provide medicines use reviews but awareness is low. In a year’s time, we would like to be in a position where GPs are actively encouraging older people to access their community pharmacy regularly to help with their medicines management and we have reviewed the current cap on medicine use reviews.”

Dr Michael Dixon, chair of NHS Alliance and a Devon GP, said: “While there are many reasons why older people need to take a number of medicines, we are nowhere near quantifying the effects of taking multiple medicines concurrently, especially in older patients. Many are confused by the sheer numbers of medicines they have been prescribed, and their health and quality of life is adversely affected when these medicines fail to treat the underlying condition because they are not taken correctly. Community pharmacy teams are well placed to undertake regular medicines use reviews, but the exact delivery must be worked through carefully with general practice colleagues to make sure our older patients aren’t sent round the houses, and are advised by the right health professional, at the right time, and in the right place.”