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The NHS will provide funding for 25 primary care networks (PCNs) in areas of high deprivation to offer supportive material for structured medication reviews (SMRs).
In a statement published on 28 October 2024, the Health Innovation Network (HIN) said the patient information materials, which encourage patients to consider whether their medicines are working and offer advice on how they can safely stop taking them, were found to improve patient outcomes when they were piloted in 2023 by the HIN covering Manchester and Nottingham.
HINs are NHS-commissioned partnerships between healthcare providers, academic institutions and businesses, which were established by NHS England in 2013 across the country.
Nationally, the HIN is now funding 25 PCNs in areas of high deprivation — including Lewisham, Burnley and Oxford — to use the patient materials. The HIN added that in response to feedback from the two pilots, the patient information materials have been extended to include 12 different languages, easy-read versions and an animation to further improve engagement.
The HIN said that all 25 PCNs are due to have access to the materials by the end of November 2024, and their use will be evaluated in March 2025.
SMRs aim to reduce problematic polypharmacy, but studies have shown that many patients do not understand what an SMR is and receive limited, if any, information to help them understand or prepare for their appointment.
The HIN said that the PCNs that piloted sharing the information resources with patients before their SMR reported that the quality of the consultation had improved as a result, and they were able to increase interventions to address problematic polypharmacy.
Patients reported that the materials helped them to think about their medicines before their appointment, and in the case of Nottingham PCN, attendance rates for SMRs increased by 88%.
Amy Semple, national programme manager for polypharmacy at the NIH, said: “We are delighted to find that the patient information materials are making such a positive difference — helping to breakdown communication barriers, address health inequalities and improve the outcomes of SMRs.
“We are excited to now also be funding 25 PCNs in areas of deprivation to encourage the targeted uptake of SMRs with more marginalised communities, through the use of the patient information materials.”
Pharmacists working for PCNs began carrying out SMRs in October 2020, but after NHS England removed financial incentives for PCNs to carry out SMRs in 2023, concerns were expressed about the future of the service.
In a policy statement published in July 2024, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) said that PCN pharmacy teams should prioritise SMRs for the most high risk patients.
Commenting on the expansion of the scheme, Tase Oputu, RPS England Board chair, said: “SMRs play a crucial role in addressing problematic polypharmacy and supporting patients in understanding and managing their medicines, which is particularly important in areas that experience health inequalities.
“By offering resources in multiple languages and accessible formats, this initiative enables better patient engagement, reduces barriers to care and improves medicines safety.
“Supporting patients in managing their medicines long-term is essential, and the RPS Repeat Prescribing Toolkit serves as an additional resource for healthcare professionals to help patients better understand their medications.
“It’s essential these materials continue to be available to support PCNs in prioritising SMRs across the NHS, ensuring the benefit of them reach those who need them most.”
