This programme has now closed but you can find the resources produced here.
You can learn more about what we are have done and why here or watch this short introductory video by the national Clinical Lead, Clare Howard.
The programme was based across three pillars which where underpinned by Polypharmacy Community of Practice groups
Community of Practice
The Oxford AHSN is developed Polypharmacy Communities of Practice (CoP) with Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB); Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB and Frimley ICB. These are part of the national AHSN Network polypharmacy programme.
The aim of each polypharmacy community of practice was to:
• bring together individuals and organisations with a common interest in helping to reduce overprescribing,
and improve medicines safety and people’s health
• foster a system-wide culture of collaboration, shared information, learning and innovation
Pillar 1: Population Health Management
Using data (NHS BSA Polypharmacy Comparators) to understand Primary Care Network risks and identify patients for prioritisation for a Structured Medication Review.
Polypharmacy: understanding the data webinars
The programme encouraged routine use of the NHSBSA Polypharmacy Comparators to assess patients in high-risk groups. The NHSBSA Polypharmacy Prescribing Comparators tool is available to all GPs and pharmacists. Over 900 delegates have joined these webinars since April 2022.
Pillar 2: Education & Training
Polypharmacy Case Study Training
A free 60-minute interactive training for healthcare professionals involved in medication review.
These sessions where for healthcare professionals involved in medication review, from Oxford and Thames Valley Health Innovation Network region: Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB), Frimley and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Integrated Care Boards (ICB).
The Training was developed by Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley in partnership with the Integrated Care Boards serving Frimley, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
Polypharmacy Action Learning Set (ALS)
Investing in clinical leaders – AHSN polypharmacy clinical leads and expert polypharmacy trainers and delivery of local polypharmacy action learning sets (ALSs) to upskill the primary care workforce to be more confident about stopping unnecessary medicines. The ALS model was originally developed and piloted by Wessex AHSN and supported by Health Education England (HEE).
The Polypharmacy ALS is an evidence-based learning model which helped GPs, Pharmacists and other Healthcare Professionals who undertake prescribing, medication reviews and de-prescribing on a regular basis, to understand the complex issues surrounding stopping inappropriate medicines safely. Following each ALS, delegates complete a quality improvement project to address problematic polypharmacy in their workplace. You can view the posters here.
Pillar 3: Public Behaviour Change
Local testing and evaluation of public-facing initiatives to change public perceptions of prescribing and encourage patients to open up about medicine concerns and expectations
‘Me and My Medicines’ is a campaign led by patients and supported by clinical staff to help people raise concerns and use their medicines better, to help everyone benefit from more effective and safer care. This is currently being piloted across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB; Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB and Frimley ICB.