In March the PCPA and NPA invited PCTs and LPCs to apply jointly for an MUR support and evaluation programme. The programme has been designed to evaluate how effective MURs are at improving patients understanding of their medicines and subsequent compliance under prescribers' direction.
A spokesperson for both organisations said:
"We received five times as many applications as there were sites available and were heartened by the work that is happening around the country to support the implementation of MURs. We will be publishing the results of this study and the support materials developed to support the pilots and will ensure that all of our applicants received this information."
Commenting on their success the chosen sites said:
BlackpoolPCT
"We are delighted to have been chosen to participate in this worthwhile project, which will enable us to promote the important role pharmacists play in helping patients get the most out of their medicines. By targeting patients with long term conditions we will be helping to address some of the major health inequalities in Blackpool, in line with the priorities in the white paper 'Pharmacy in England'. We are pleased that we will be involved in sharing our outcomes in order to contribute to future national developments."
East Riding and HullLPC
"East Riding and Hull LPC is extremely pleased to have been selected for this important programme working with both the East Riding of Yorkshire PCT and Hull Teaching PCT. We firmly believe that community pharmacy practices have a great deal to offer to both patients and the NHS. Historically the LPC and PCTs in our area have worked together extremely effectively and delivered innovative service developments which have been highlighted and recognised nationally.
Our involvement in this programme will continue to develop and strengthen the quality of MUR services provided and enable community pharmacy practices to make an even bigger contribution to improving the health of our local community."
Warwickshire PCT
"Warwickshire PCT is delighted to have been chosen to participate in this project, enabling us to achieve one of our key objectives to ensure that as many appropriate patients as possible have access to a quality Medicines Use Review and thereby help them to get the best from their medicines."
BradfordPCT
"We are delighted to have been selected to take part in the project. We hope that it will help to raise the profile of Medicine Use Reviews (MURs) among patients and other health care professionals, so increasing both the uptake and quality of MURs carried out."
Ian Hunter, Pharmacy Strategy Development Manager at Pfizer said:
"Community pharmacists can play a vital role in providing services to help patients better understand the medicines they take. This programme will help identify and develop best practice in delivering MURs and help pharmacists deliver best care for patients."
Notes
This programme has been funded by Pfizer Limited as a service to medicine.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) was established in 1921 as the trade association of community pharmacy owners. To reflect the changes in the pharmacy environment the NPA now extends membership and its associated benefits to all members of the community pharmacy infrastructure.
The Primary Care Pharmacists Association (PCPA) was established in 1998 as a support organization for pharmacists working in primary care and is now the largest independent organization dedicated to supporting pharmacists working within primary care.
National Pharmacy Association