New RPS and RCGP Repeat Prescribing Toolkit will improve safety and efficiency
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) have developed a practical toolkit designed to improve the consistency, safety and efficiency of repeat prescribing systems in general practices in England.
The RPS/RCGP Repeat prescribing toolkit was commissioned by NHS England and is a recommendation from the 2021 National Overprescribing Review, which recognised the impact that poorly operated repeat prescribing can have on over prescribing and problematic polypharmacy.
The toolkit is the first national good practice guidance on repeat prescribing in 20 years.
With over 1 billion prescriptions dispensed annually in England, 77% of which are repeat prescriptions, the need for efficiency and safety is paramount.
Repeat prescriptions account for nearly 80% of NHS medicine costs for primary care. The significant workload caused by repeat prescriptions necessitates streamlining and improvement, which is recognised with resources provided by NHS England on aligning capacity and demand in general practice.
The RPS/RCGP Repeat Prescribing Toolkit allows GP practice teams and primary care networks, working in collaboration with community pharmacies and patients, to evaluate their local arrangements against a framework and work together to identify areas for safety and efficiency improvements.
By streamlining repeat prescribing systems, the toolkit aims to improve patient care, addressing inconsistencies and potential oversupply, whilst reducing unnecessary medicines waste, saving NHS resources.
The toolkit also includes practical guidance on improving communication with patients about repeat prescribing, supported by good practice case studies, flow charts, action plan templates, and useful resources.
Alongside the toolkit, a new NHS dashboard is available, highlighting the scale of potential oversupply of medicines for a range of prescribing areas. Oversupply is when more medication is dispensed than is typically needed or wanted by the patient. The dashboard will support improvement initiatives, particularly around addressing inconsistencies with repeat prescribing processes, to help to minimise avoidable waste or the risk of harm to patients.
The oversupply dashboard is accessible through ePACT2, an online business intelligence platform provided by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ePACT2 improves access to quality prescribing data and is available to authorised users only. To register visit the NHSBSA website. If you're already registered, visit the dashboard.
Clare Howard, RPS Fellow and Clinical Lead author said:
"The RPS/RCGP Repeat Prescribing Toolkit represents a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and efficiency of repeat prescribing systems, ultimately benefiting patients and the NHS as a whole.
“By working together, the RCGP and RPS have developed practical guidance and useful resources which will enable GP practices and Primary Care Networks to self-assess their current arrangements and make meaningful improvements in their repeat prescribing processes.”
Professor Tony Avery, National Clinical Director for Prescribing at NHS England and a GP, said:
“With over one billion prescriptions dispensed annually in England, over three quarters of which are repeat prescriptions, it is essential that repeat prescribing systems in general practices are safe for patients and efficient for all involved.
“I would like to thank colleagues from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal College of General Practitioners for their excellent work in producing this Toolkit together. I feel certain that it will prove a useful resource for general practices and community pharmacies and will benefit patients.”
Dr Michael Mulholland, Honorary Secretary of the RCGP said:
“We're really pleased to launch this new toolkit in collaboration with the RPS. Safe and appropriate prescribing is a key skill for GPs, and something we take very seriously, taking into account the unique circumstances of every patient, in conversation with them. Repeat prescribing makes up a large part of general practice workload and we need to make sure we are always streamlining and improving the process.
"This new toolkit aims to support GP practice teams and primary care networks, working with community pharmacies and patients, to create a collaborative, safe and efficient process for repeat prescribing with the aim of improving practice processes, patient care and reducing waste. The toolkit also includes practical guidance on improving communication with patients about repeat prescribing, supported by good practice case studies, flow charts, action plan templates, and other useful resources."
Graham Prestwich, patient representative and Board Member, Healthwatch Leeds, said:
“This Toolkit from the professional bodies of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Royal College of GPs provides a clear message to their members of the importance and value of helping and supporting patients, their families and carers, to complete important tasks and responsibilities that directly influence the safer and more effective use of medicines. The Toolkit and associated resources help make communicating with patients about their repeat medicines simpler and more effective."
The RPS/RCGP Repeat Prescribing Toolkit is now available for use by general practices, Primary Care Networks, Integrated Care Boards and pharmacies across England.
The Toolkit joins a host of resources from RPS which support prescribing practice.