The Health Innovation Network National Polypharmacy Programme was launched in April 2022. The core principle of the programme is to support local systems to address problematic polypharmacy by using data to identify patients at potential risk of harm and support better conversations about medicines.

The programme is based on three core principles supported by a local community of practice to drive changes in practice:

1. Population health management
   Using data (NHSBSA polypharmacy prescribing comparators) to understand population health risks and support prioritisation of patients for a structured medication review.
2. Education and training
   Running local Polypharmacy Action Learning Sets (ALSs) to upskill the primary care workforce to be more confident about stopping unnecessary medicines.
3. Public behaviour change
   The testing and evaluation of public-facing interventions to challenge and change public perceptions of prescribing and encourage patients to talk about medicines.

WE NEED YOU!

• Prescribers (medical and non-medical) working in primary care with 12+ months experience to become accredited National Health Innovation Network Polypharmacy Action Learning Set Trainer.
• Passionate geriatricians to share their experience as clinical champions.
• To join our Polypharmacy – learning collaborative (community of practice): an open forum to share successes and challenges across the region and an opportunity to network with colleagues from all sectors.

To read more about this programme, visit the: Health Innovation Network’s polypharmacy webpage

To join your local community of practice, or find out how to get involved in the programme, please email: Jordan.Leith@healthinnovationwm.org.