South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board – HSCP22 Prescribing Efficiencies
| Title | South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board – HSCP22 Prescribing Efficiencies |
|---|---|
| Council Resource | Social Work |
| Aims and Objectives | The aim of this proposal is to bring the level of prescribing in South Lanarkshire closer to the Scottish average. The Prescribing Efficiencies Programme is underway and focusing on a range of initiatives including reviewing the medicines currently prescribed for people who are in receipt of multiple medicines; consideration to withdraw medicines with low therapeutic value and using software programmes to assist in identifying medicines which could be switched to cheaper alternatives that do the same job. The effect of this proposal would see a recurring saving of £1.920m, which would support the IJB to achieve its statutory responsibility to set a balanced budget in 2024/25. |
| Conclusion | All members of the community who are in receipt of prescribed medication may be affected as a result of their medicine being changed or potentially removed; pharmacists and those with responsibility for prescribing, including GPs, nurse practitioners, pharmacists etc will also need to change their prescribing habits. A range of consultation has been undertaken, including extended sessions with IJB members and IJB voting members. https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/slhscp/info/2/integration_joint_board The South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Forum has also contributed to the overall process, representing the views of the public on health and social care matters. This policy will be applied equally to all those on prescribed medications and, as such, not impact adversely on any of the protected characteristic groups. Detailed reports on the Prescribing Efficiencies Programme are shared routinely at the Prescribing and Medicines Management Board. This recommendation will bring South Lanarkshire prescribing into line with other comparative Health Boards. The Prescribing Efficiencies Programme is going to be applied equally to all those on prescribed medication and, as such, it is unlikely to impact adversely on any of the protected characteristic groups. However ongoing monitoring of the policy will be undertaken to ensure actions are taken swiftly to mitigate any differential impact. Agreed by the South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board on 26th March 2024. |
| Completion date | March 2024 |
| Contact Email address | equalities@southlanarkshire.gov.uk |