§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to utilise community pharmacists in the review of medication of older people. [45642]
§ Jacqui SmithThe NHS Plan set a target for all Primary Care Trusts to have schemes in place so that people get more help from pharmacists in using their medicines by 2004.
The National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People highlighted the importance of medication review and the role pharmacists can play in helping older people take their medicines more effectively.
We are investing in medicines management services including through the collaborative hosted by the National Prescribing Centre. This initiative will build on and complement other local initiatives through which community pharmacists are involved in reviewing the medication of older people, as promoted in the NSF.