Decision to fund more pharmacists in care homes is “bang on target”

15 March 2018: Sandra Gidley, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s English Pharmacy Board, was quoted by the Daily Telegraph and Daily Express, welcoming NHS England’s announcement of funding for 180 pharmacists and 60 technicians to work in care homes. “Our overstretched NHS is crying out for solutions, and this one is bang on target,” Gidley said. Speaking to BBC Online, Gidley added: “We’d encourage NHS England to go even further and give pharmacists overall responsibility for medicines and their use in care homes.

“Around £24m of medicines is wasted every year in care homes, and pharmacists can set up systems that improve efficiency whilst at the same time providing better health outcomes.”