Guidelines : Polypharmacy and Medication reviews

The AHSN Network and its partners have developed a range of evidenced-based resources to support and help prepare people invited for a Structured Medication Review with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.

Resources to support patients having a Structured Medication Review - The Health Innovation Network

The resources can be printed and used in paper format or shared electronically with patients via email, text message or any other electronic systems used by GP practices.

They are available in the following languages, including audio versions for visually impaired people: English, Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Polish, Punjabi Gurmukhi, Punjabi Shahmukhi, Romanian, and Urdu.

Further resources and tools are available to support the process of medication review, address problematic polypharmacy and support deprescribing.

See below for a variety of resources agreed for local use.

A number of resources (available below) have been developed locally to support practices and PCNs with implementing Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs):

• Template for structured medication reviews

• Ardens template - screen shots from EMIS and SystmOne showing how to access the templates

• Patient invitation to an SMR - template letter and pre-assessment form

NHS England have published guidance to support Primary Care Networks with implementing the requirements of the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) and the Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) as components of the contract DES.

Please see guidance documents below