Greater partnerships to improve medicines use for people with dementia

The results of a large-scale audit of a two year service pilot reveal the positive role specially trained pharmacists can play in collaboration with GPs, nurses and care home workers in better managing the appropriate use of antipsychotic medicines for people with dementia in care homes. According to the study, through the use of specially trained pharmacists in a pilot service, over one quarter (26%) of residents reviewed did not have any symptoms which necessitated a regular anti-psychotic medication, and in almost two thirds (58%) of cases the risk of the medication was deemed to outweigh the benefit. In addition,