The importance of innovation in pharmacy practice is being explored today as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales hosts its annual Medicines Safety Conference.

This year’s conference will address how patient safety can continue to be strengthened and improved wherever a medicine is used, with particular focus on how advances in science and technology can improve medicines safety.

Discussions will be headlined by Professor John Watkins of Cardiff University and Public Health Wales who will address the issue of complexity of organisational design and its impact on safety.

The Welsh cabinet secretary for health, Vaughan Gething AM and the chief pharmaceutical officer for Wales, Andrew Evans, will add to the line-up taking a future view of pharmacy practice, elaborating on the good practice that is in place now and the innovation in medicines management that will need to be harnessed in the future.

Commenting on this year’s event, Mr Gething said: “Pharmacists in Wales are taking a central role in the Welsh Government’s drive to provide patients with high-quality care, promptly and closer to home.

“I look forward to hearing how technological advances can help ensure patient safety, and to contribute to what promises to be an interesting discussion on best practice to ensure patient safety. This paired with a cooperative approach between pharmacists and other health professionals will reduce harm related to inappropriate, unsafe and unwarranted prescribing.”