AQW 55135/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 03/03/2016
Answered On Date: 23/03/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the role of pharmacists in improving medicines management.

Answer:

Medicines management is complex and multi-factorial and so must incorporate a number of components in order to be effective. The evolving role of pharmacists has greatly improved the safety and quality of patient care resulting in health gain and economy of use of healthcare resources.

This is articulated in the recently published Medicines Optimisation Quality Framework (MOQF) which supports effective medicines management in all healthcare settings. In that context, I recently announced an investment in 2016/17 of up to £2.6 million, rising to £14 million per year in 2020/21, for pharmacists to work alongside GPs with the aim of improving the quality and safety of prescribing to deliver improved patient outcomes.