Care homes with onsite pharmacies are safer for residents, a study has shown.

The Care Home Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Study (CHIPPS) trialled onsite pharmacists in dozens of care homes across the UK.

Evidence from the study shows that onsite pharmacists reduce the risk of potential harm to care home residents from medicine.

According to the study, published in the BMJ on 14 February, care home residents are routinely prescribed an average of eight or more medicines. Medicine use is considered to be one of the main areas of risk in care home settings by both the government and regulatory organisations. One study cited in the BMJ paper says that 70% of care home residents experienced drug errors daily.

The research involved experts from the University of Aberdeen, Queen’s University Belfast, University of East Anglia, University of Leeds, Norwich Clinical Trials and was led by the University of Leicester.

CHIPPS conducted a randomised controlled trial including 49 care homes across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The study also involved 25 care home trained pharmacist independent prescribers who were integrated into care homes to improve medicines management and safety.

Researchers found the implementation of pharmacist independent prescribers in care homes is safe, well received by all stakeholders and reduces potential future harm from medicines. Potential future harm from medicines was significantly reduced.

Aberdeen project lead Professor Christine Bond said: “This study showed that pharmacists could safely optimise prescribing regimens for care home residents, reducing their drug burden and risk of future adverse events. The service was highly valued by general practitioners and their teams who appreciated the expertise of the pharmacists and the reductions in their workload. Care home staff also valued the input from the pharmacists and their support.”

Project leader, Professor of Health Services Research and Head of School of Healthcare University of Leicester, David Wright said: “The results support expansion of the current pharmacist role in care homes, to include prescribing and frequent visits, as it reduces future harm from medicines and helps care homes to improve their management of medicines.”