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Medicines optimisation is the safe and effective use of medicines to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. It involves a person-centred approach that takes into account the needs, experiences and preferences of individuals when prescribing, dispensing, administering and reviewing medicines.
The aim is to help people get the best results from their medicines by making sure they are used safely and in the right way, while also making the best use of NHS resources. For more detailed guidance, visit the NICE Medicines Optimisation Guidelines.
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has a highly skilled and experienced Medicines Optimisation Team (MOT). The team works closely with GPs, pharmacies and other health professionals across the area to help people get the best from their medicines.
Our Medicines Value Priorities for 2025-26
High-cost drugs - Ensure the optimal use of specialist and high-cost medicines, including biosimilars and those approved by NICE.
Polypharmacy and overprescribing - Address opioid overuse in chronic pain management; stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism, or both (STOMP) and of children and young people (STAMP); focus on appropriate prescribing for people living with frailty and those at end of life.
Diabetes - Improve the quality of prescribing and support the uptake of new technologies to give patients better tools to manage their diabetes.
Respiratory - Optimise care for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); promote shared treatment guidelines, personalised care plans and empower patients to manage their condition.
Cardiovascular - Support treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), focusing on atrial fibrillation, lipid management, high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure.
Medicines waste - Reduce overprescribing and strengthen repeat prescribing systems to minimise waste.
Low priority prescribing / Medicines of limited clinical value - Encourage self-care for minor illnesses and help patients access the right healthcare professional at the right time; promote the role of community pharmacy; reduce the use of medicines with limited clinical value or weak evidence of effectiveness.
Green agenda - Consider the environmental impact of medicines in all decision-making; focus on reducing the use of inhalers and anaesthetics with a high carbon footprint.
