This programme has now closed but you may find the below resources useful. Please note the information on this webpage was correct at the time of publication.
When some patients leave hospital they may need extra support taking their medications, especially if changes have been made to their prescription. The Transfers of Care Around Medicines (TCAM), a national AHSN Network programme commissioned by NHS England and Improvement between 2018-2020, was supported by the West of England AHSN to help ensure that when a patient leaves hospital, they have access to support so they understand the medicines they have been prescribed.
When a patient moves from one care setting to another, known as transfer of care; there is an increased risk of adverse effects. 30-70% of patients experience unintentional changes to their treatment or an error is made because of a miscommunication.
This is what the TCAM programme aimed to address; it involved identifying patients upon discharge who may be at risk from adverse effects or needing support with their medicines and referring them for advice and support from their usual community pharmacy. Work in the North East has shown that patients who see their community pharmacist after they’ve been in hospital are less likely to be readmitted and, if they are, will experience a shorter stay.
The success of this programme has shaped a new service commissioned by NHS England under the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. Commenced in February 2021, the NHS Discharge Medicines Services contributes to improved cross-system collaboration to maximise the impact on patient safety and quality of care. More information about this service, including an implementation toolkit can be found here.
All five regional trusts can meet the requirements of this service following support from the West of England AHSN, alongside Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust. Timely communication of changes to medicines to community pharmacists via Discharge Medicine Service (CCG7) is included in the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme for 2022-2023 – for more information on this, please visit NHS England’s website.
TCAM project was re-oriented in response to COVID-19. It focused on discharge to care homes and new residents moving into care homes. Find out more here.
Resources
Wessex AHSN have produced a series of videos under the ‘Meet Mo’ campaign’ to encourage people, who may be struggling with medicines, to seek help.
The second Mo video is about supporting patients who’ve had a visit to hospital, where new medicines may be prescribed or where changes have been made to their medicines.
Get in touch
For more information, please contact Senior Project Manager, Christopher Learoyd.
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