Welsh Government investment to make care home prescribing safer

Welsh Government investment in new technology in pharmacies and care homes across Wales is reducing wasted medicines and prescribing errors and improving patient care.

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford will today visit Tower Hill Residential Home, in Penarth, which is one of 30 care homes to pilot a new system, which uses innovative barcode technology generated in local pharmacies, to ensure their residents receive the right prescription medicines.

The Minister will meet residents and staff and see the system in action at the nearby Washington Pharmacy.

The project is sponsored by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. Pharmacies and care homes in Swansea, Tondu, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthen are also taking part in the pilot.

As pharmacists dispense prescription medicines, a unique barcode – personalised to each patient – is generated.

Care home staff use the new system to identify the resident, select the right medication and record its administration. Error checking and data collection built into the system ensures a safer and more efficient medicines management process.”

Professor Drakeford said:

“This new way of working is improving the quality and safety of care within care homes and reducing waste – not just wasted medicines but also wasted staff time. Ordering and managing medicines in a care home can be a full-time job, which is time that could be better spent caring for residents.”

Technology company Beacon Digital was awarded £455,000 from the Welsh Government’s Health Technology and Telehealth Fund to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in Wales. The funding was used to buy equipment, develop the supporting software and train more than 500 care home and pharmacy staff in its use.”

Professor Clive Bowman, executive chairman of Beacon Digital, said:

“We are delighted to have the support of the Welsh Government to demonstrate the effectiveness of technology to deliver greater safety and efficiency and develop the role of the pharmacy.”

An independent Cardiff University School of Pharmacy study of six of the care homes involved has found that as well as significant staff time spent on medicines management, on average each care home was carrying around £500 of overstocked medicines. Improved stock control in each residential home ensures that fewer medicines reach their expiry date before use and therefore have to be thrown away.”

Professor Drakeford added:

“This system makes the best use of pharmacists’ time and expertise; reduces waste and improves safety for residents. It’s a great example of collaboration as well as prudent healthcare – making the best use of resources to improve the care people in Tower Hill and the other care homes taking part in this pilot receive.”