Enhancing Clinical Hospital Pharmacy Services In Wales: An Independent Review And Recommendations

• By: WILSON, Claire (Royal Pharmaceutical Society)
• Co-author(s): Mrs Laura Wilson (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, London, United Kingdom)
  Mrs Elen Jones (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, London, United Kingdom)
  Mr Wing Tang (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, London, United Kingdom)
  Ms Claire Anderson (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, London, United Kingdom)
  
• Abstract:

  
  Title: Enhancing Clinical Hospital Pharmacy Services in Wales: An Independent Review and Recommendations
  
  Authors: Elen Jones, Wing Tang
  
  Affiliations: Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Great Britain
  
  Background: Clinical pharmacy services in hospital settings play a critical role in ensuring patient safety and optimal medication management. However, the effectiveness of these services may vary across different healthcare facilities.
  Hospital services have experienced growing pressure for many years, as clinical teams adapt to meet the changing needs of the NHS; specifically, demand has increased as more people live longer, with more complex health needs and an increase in the availability of new and emerging medical technologies. While the COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on the NHS, it was a catalyst for change across healthcare. As well as the increased demands as we have emerged from the pandemic, workforce shortages are causing increased pressures across all settings, including for hospital pharmacy teams in Wales.
  
  Purpose: The Welsh Government commissioned an independent review by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to assess and improve clinical hospital pharmacy services to meet evolving healthcare demands and enhance patient outcomes.
  This review evaluated the current state of clinical hospital pharmacy services in Wales, identified areas of good practice that could be shared, identified areas for improvement, and provided recommendations for enhancing service delivery. If implemented, these recommendations will ensure clinical hospital pharmacy services can continue to meet the changing needs of patients and the NHS in Wales.
  
  Method: A variety of qualitative research methods were used to gather data to inform the overarching narrative, actions and recommendations utilising one to one interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, and data analysis to assess clinical pharmacy services across hospitals in Wales. To identify international examples of good practice, RPS Wales engaged and collaborated with FIP. An independent “think tank” was established to inform, review, and challenge the thinking and recommendations of the RPS project team. Most importantly, focus group discussions with patient groups explored their experiences of pharmacy teams and medicines processes in hospitals.
  
  Results: Information collated along with the teams though leadership accumulated into 36 recommendations, across seven key themes. These included redesigning clinical pharmacy services in hospitals to ensure they are responsive to patient need, deliver consistently high quality, better utilise prescribing pharmacists and all pharmacy team members to improve treatment outcomes, and better integration into multidisciplinary working. Additionally, opportunities to advance pharmacy practice through robust technology integration and strong professional development initiatives were highlighted.
  https://www.rpharms.com/Portals/0/RPS image library/Wales Hospital Review/Wales Hospital Report v11 amended.pdf
  
  Conclusion: Welsh Government responded to the report and accepted all the recommendations. Implementation of the recommendations outlined in this report will elevate the standard of clinical pharmacy services in Wales, benefiting patients, healthcare professionals, and the broader healthcare system.
  https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-09/clinical-pharmacy.pdf