Polypharmacy prescribing guidance - draft: consultation
We are consulting on this draft updated polypharmacy prescribing guidance. 'Appropriate Prescribing - Making medicines safe, effective and sustainable 2025-2028' aims to further improve the care of individuals taking multiple medicines through the use of 7-Steps medicine reviews and promotes a holistic approach to person-centred care.
Open
76 days to respond
Respond online
Consultation questions
We have a total of 14 questions with some being multi-part, please answer as many as you feel able to.
1. Delivery of comprehensive 7-Steps Medication Reviews
No. |
Our recommendations |
Strength of recommendation |
|---|---|---|
1a |
A structured medication review by pharmacists in primary care should be conducted at least annually. |
Strong recommendation |
1b |
Pharmacists should consider home visits for house bound individuals to reduce the potential for hoarding of medicines by people living at home. |
Strong recommendation |
2 |
Home visits by pharmacists or GPs for house bound individuals may be effective in adjusting treatment plans and improving medication safety. |
Conditional recommendation |
3 |
Medication review should be undertaken when a person is discharged from hospital. Medication treatment in a broader sense needs to adjust and align with treatment plans; which will include medication counselling; medication self-management; and securing medication safety |
Strong recommendation |
4 |
Medication review should follow a structured process such as the 7-Steps review process. |
Strong recommendation |
The following revised case finding criteria are recommended to prioritise individuals for a polypharmacy medication review:
1. Prescribed 10 or more medicines with a high-risk medication (this will identify those from deprived communities where the average age is lower when taking 10 or more medications)
2. Adults aged 50 years and older and resident in a care home, regardless of the number of medicines prescribed
3. Adults aged over 65 years, prioritising those living with frailty or anyone over 75 years
4. Adults of any age, approaching the end of their life or receiving palliative care
5. Those receiving care at home or hospital at home
6. Those on high-risk medication (as defined by the Case Finding indicators), regardless of the number of medicines taken
Question 1a
Do you agree or disagree with the recommendations for those with polypharmacy and/or high-risk medicines?
(Agree / Neither agree nor disagree / Disagree / Not sure)
Question 1b
Do you agree or disagree with the recommendations on who should be targeted for a polypharmacy review?
(Agree / Neither agree nor disagree / Disagree / Not sure)
Question 1c
Please provide any further comments about our recommendations.
Contact
Email: EPandT@gov.scot