The power of ePACT2 data
The NHS Long Term Plan relies on pharmacists working in GP practices to carry out medication reviews. But if you can’t find and prioritise patients to review, there is a risk that missed patients could be harmed.
According to prescribing data from the NHS Business Service Authority (NHSBSA), in July 2019:
- 6,300 patients were receiving 4 or more different anti-depressants concurrently
- 857,000 patients were receiving 10 or more unique medicines
- 63,000 patients over the age of 65 had an anticholinergic burden score of 6 or more
- on average 1,100 patients per CCG were prescribed gabapentin and an opioid in the same mont
- over 1,000 patients were receiving 4 or more antipsychotics concurrently
How would you know if any of these patients were in your practice? The NHS Long Term Plan relies on pharmacists working in GP practices to carry out medication reviews. But if you can’t find and prioritise patients to review, there is a risk that missed patients could be harmed.
The NHSBSA's ePACT2 dashboards can help dispensers identify patients who may be at risk and who would benefit from an intervention:
Contact Information
Kate Blush
Senior Media and Campaigns Officer
NHS Business Services Authority
Notes to editors
About the NHS Business Services Authority
The NHS Business Services Authority is a Special Health Authority and an Arm’s Length Body of the Department of Health and Social Care which provides a range of critical central services to NHS organisations, NHS contractors, patients and the public. Its purpose is to be a catalyst for better health and its vision is to be the delivery partner of choice for the NHS. For more information about the NHSBSA, please visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk