by Edel O'Sullivan, | May 2, 2023
MOIC have been working with a number of colleagues across Northern Ireland in the area of cardiovascular disease.
Funding was obtained from AstraZeneca to pilot the establishment of a cardiometabolic pharmacy service within the Western Health and Social Care Trust. A cardiometabolic pharmacist conducted outpatient reviews for those at risk of cardiometabolic diseases. These reviews aimed to increase adherence to medicines that prevent and delay disease progression. A total of 247 patients were reviewed by the cardiometabolic pharmacist. After initial screening, 98 of these patients were invited for a medication review in a clinic setting by the cardiometabolic pharmacist. Following medication review 32 were commenced on a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). This project provided an exciting opportunity for service development and proved to be a success in developing the role of the pharmacist within cardiometabolic disease. It is anticipated that the results from this project will be utilised to further develop the case for a cardiometabolic pharmacist within each of the HSC Trusts in NI.
In the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, funding was obtained from AstraZeneca to undertake work with the cardiology team and primary care colleagues to establish, deliver and evaluate virtual heart failure clinics. The virtual heart failure clinics commenced on April 2022. An interim analysis was carried out at 6 months (November 2022) and summarised the number and type of sessions delivered, the number of attendees and case numbers, the characteristics of referrals, clinical outcomes and qualitative reports on the outcomes from the HFVC including clinician knowledge and confidence. Full analysis is planned at 12 months as part of the evaluation.
by Edel O'Sullivan, | May 2, 2023
The COMET study is led by researchers in The Netherlands and is being run in the NHSCT with the support of both pharmacy and MOIC staff. The study uses pseudonymised data from patients hospitalised with COVID-19 to establish if certain medications affect clinical outcomes in those with COVID-19. During the year data for a 1-year follow up of the initial patient cohort was collected in the NHSCT, this data is currently being analysed. (May 2023).
by Edel O'Sullivan, | May 7, 2021
The iSIMPATHY (Implementing Stimulating Innovation in the Management of Polypharmacy and Adherence Through the Years) project is funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme and managed by the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB). Project partners are Scottish Government/NHS Scotland, Northern Health & Social Care Trust/Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre in Northern Ireland and the Health Service Executive in the Republic of Ireland.
The project follows on from the successful Scotland led SIMPATHY project to develop a healthcare management programme to tackle the growing global issue of inappropriate polypharmacy. The iSIMPATHY programme will train pharmacists and other medical professionals to undertake structured medicine reviews in line with guidance and best practice developed during the initial SIMPATHY programme. A total of 15,000 medicine reviews will be undertaken as part of the programme – 6,000 in Scotland and 4,500 each in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
it is hoped iSIMPATHY will lead to a significant contribution towards the embedding of a single approach for polypharmacy management and adherence as well as firmly establishing the value of cross-border working in this field. This will ultimately enable those with multiple morbidity to live healthy and active lives.
by Edel O'Sullivan, | May 7, 2021
n 2019 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared 2020-2030 the decade of Healthy Ageing. By 2050, it is projected that one in four people in the UK will be aged 65 years and over, currently 18% of the UK population is over 65.
The likelihood of experiencing multiple chronic and complex health conditions among those aged 65 years and over increases with age, therefore it is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of our health and social care sectors.
SHAPES highlights future avenues to respond to this challenge:
- User led digital solutions centred around the home and community
- Focus on improving health, wellbeing and independence
- Empowering older people.
- SHAPES will be delivered by an EU wide interdisciplinary consortium with blended expertise.
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is involved in piloting digital solutions in the community to assess their impact on medication control and optimisation.
SHAPES provides opportunities to:
Build systems that centre around individuals living in their own communities
Contribute to forward looking public health policy – enabling prevention and improved management of health conditions.
Solutions such as SHAPES will contribute to improve the management of future global health crises. For further updates on SHAPES visit our news section.
by MOIC | May 7, 2020
Point of Care Testing
In community pharmacy, Northern Pharmacies Trust have piloted a new point of care test for use in patients with cough, cold and flu symptoms. MOIC are assisting with the evaluation of this service.
Community Pharmacy Flu Vaccination
In October 2019, the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Flu Vaccination (CPFV) Pilot Service for frontline Health & Social Care workers (HSCW) was launched within the Western Health & Social Care Trust area. This service was commissioned to run alongside the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2019/2020 to sustain and maximise the uptake of the flu vaccine amongst frontline HSCW.
MOIC are assisting the HSCB and Public Health Agency in the evaluation of this CPFV pilot service. In the Western Trust area, 26 pharmacies are offering the service during the Flu Season from October 2019- March 2020. Building the capacity of community pharmacies as an additional route to vaccination could provide improved accessibility and convenience for frontline HSCW. Evaluation is set to commence at the conclusion of the current Flu Season (March/April 2020).
Pharmacy First
During Winter 2019 a new ‘Pharmacy First’ service for coughs, colds and flu like symptoms was introduced across NI. MOIC worked closely with HSCB colleagues in order to evaluate this service.
Monitoring of physical health parameters of patients with severe mental illness
