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Polypharmacy: getting the balance right

As part of the 2022/23 AHSN Network ‘Polypharmacy: getting the balance right’ programme, Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley (HIOTV) supported healthcare professionals to identify patients at potential risk from polypharmacy and to support better conversations about medicines. Although this programme is now closed you may still find the resources on this page useful. In particular, you can read more about the work we have done and the three pillars underpinning the programme here.

Quality Improvement 

To understand the impact of programme at patient level, particularly Pillars 2 and 3, a Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives Expression of Interest was launched nationally in July 2024 and across the HIOTV region. This offered funding to primary care networks (PCNs) or GP practices to support a QI initiative implemented following completion of action learning sets (ALS), attendance at local training or demonstrating use of programme resources. A total of eight PCNs across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB), Frimley and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) were selected to design, develop and test their QI interventions.

In July 2025, a dedicated webinar on polypharmacy QI projects showcased the breadth of these interventions and collaboration across the region. This event also marked the conclusion of HIOTV’s three-year programme, which has been dedicated to supporting safer, more effective use of prescribed medicines and improving health outcomes for patients. The webinar recording is available below:

 

QI project summaries are available through the poster links below along with other resources.

Regional Quality Improvement Posters

North Oxfordshire Rural Alliance Primary Care Network PCN

Reading Holybrook PCN

Hatters Health PCN

East Bedford PCN

  • Minimising harm from polypharmacy (pdf). Identifying and reviewing patients on 20+ medications to reduce harm related to anticholinergic burden and DAMN medications

Caritas Medical

Ascot PCN

Bracknell & District PCN

National Quality Improvement posters

Following each national Action Learning Set (ALS), delegates completed a quality improvement project to address problematic polypharmacy in their workplace. You can view the posters here

The mechanics of tackling overprescribing and problematic polypharmacy

A guide aimed at helping primary care organisations and integrated care boards (ICBs) understand and address problematic polypharmacy was launched by the Health Innovation Network as part of its national Polypharmacy Programme in February 2025. Developed in response to a clear need identified by primary care and prescribing colleagues, this resource provides practical, evidence-based strategies to support organisations and healthcare professionals in helping to reduce overprescribing and improve patient outcomes. With the government and the NHS prioritising prevention and moving care from hospitals to communities, tackling polypharmacy is a key approach to encouraging safer, more effective medication use, especially among older people. This guide offers simple yet impactful solutions to optimise prescribing practices, supporting ICBs, PCNs and GP practices in organising their teams and improving the quality of SMRs.

Helping patients take their medicines safely: reasonable adjustments

A suite of a free resources has been created to help patients take their medicines safely. They focus on improving understanding of the range of, and process for selecting, reasonable adjustments for patients who may be encountering challenges with taking multiple medicines. These resources include a video, decision tree poster and assessment form for use by healthcare professionals. There is also a short video for patients, carers and families.

Lunchtime masterclass

Recordings of masterclasses can be found here:

For more information please contact Marianna.Lepetyukh@healthinnovationoxford.org or seema.gadhia@healthinnovationoxford.org

Or you can contact the Integrated Care Board polypharmacy leads:

Last update: 19th September 2025 at 08:33