This discussion paper and vision statement calls for a single pharmacist and GP practice for each care home describing the context of major medication safety challenges in care homes.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) believes it is time to change the way medicines are used in care homes. Too many care home residents are taking medicines which are doing them more harm than good. At a time when every pound of NHS resource needs to be scrutinised, we believe that a far more efficient system would have one pharmacist, as part of a multidisciplinary team, responsible for the whole system of medicines and their use within a care home.

We believe, and evidence shows, that this improves care, reduces NHS medicines waste and reduces the serious harm that can be caused by inappropriate use of medicines.