Annual report 2023 Prescribing and Medication Optimisation

We hold approximately termly online meetings of the SIG, discussing a variety of pertinent issues, including internal and external presentations. In addition, we held a face-to-face, joint with the Quality and Safety SIG, during the SAPC Annual Scientific Meeting, attended by about 15 individuals, ranging in experience from doctoral students to professorial staff from both SIGs. Potential opportunities for collaboration between the SIGs were discussed.

There are ongoing discussions between the SAPC SIG and the British Pharmacological Society, looking at opportunities for collaboration. This includes looking at shared research and teaching opportunities and also development of a sub-speciality.

We have developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the College of Mental Health Pharmacy to build future collaboration; this also links with the Mental Health SIG.

The SIG has also worked with Christine Bond (University of Aberdeen) and Natasha Callender (NHS England) to improve the engagement of primary care clinical pharmacy with research and evidence-based practice. Natasha and Christine presented at the February SIG meeting.

To date, it is difficult to provide evidence for impact of the SIG. The SIG has facilitated members of the SIG to develop a grant, for NIHR funding, on de-prescribing in primary care. We plan that the SIG will lead to other research and educational collaborations in due course.

Affiliation of the SIG with SAPC has helped provide the group with credibility, and raised the profile of the topic within SAPC and the wider community. It has certainly helped to foster the ongoing collaborations mentioned above particularly between the wider pharmacy community and SAPC.

A representative for SAPC and the SIG attended a recent meeting of the South-West Pharmacy Research Network to promote SAPC and the activities our SIG members are involved in. This was a good opportunity to reach out to potential new members and broaden the visibility of the wider society as well as the SIG itself.