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New research presented in Dispensing Health in Later Life reveals that eight in 10 GPs are not confident that their older patients, aged over 75 years and on more than four medicines, are still taking their medicines correctly six months after consultation. Doctors also believe that more than half (50.3 per cent) of their older patients would benefit from taking fewer medicines.

The research, commissioned by Pharmacy Voice, also reveals that more than nine in 10 GPs (92 per cent) would like more support from community pharmacy teams to help their patients take their medicines correctly.

The foreword to Dispensing Health in Later Life is supported by key GP and primary care organisation, NHS Alliance and Care England, which represents care homes. The report makes three recommendations:

• People over 75 years old and on more than four medicines should have access to regular MURs undertaken by their community pharmacy teams, ideally every six months, and immediately after hospital discharge. The cap on the number of funded MURs should be reviewed and GPs should do more to make patients aware of MURs from community pharmacy.

• National representative organisations representing general practice and community pharmacy should urgently work together on how to improve collaboration, making sure people are advised by the right health professional, at the right time, and in the right place.

• There should be greater commitment to improved information sharing. This should include allowing community pharmacy professionals secure access to both read and add clinical information to people's summary health care records, with their consent. The Government has committed to providing all community pharmacies read-only access to summary care records by autumn 2017. This should be rapidly followed by secure access to update records with written information, with patient consent.

Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, commented:

€Regular MURs could have a significant impact on the quality of people's lives, reduce hospital admissions and deliver significant savings to the NHS. If regular reviews achieved just one fewer prescription per person per year, this could deliver tens of millions of pounds back to the service, and enrich life for millions of people who could be taking medicines that are no longer needed or not effective."

Awareness of MURs is currently low, he said. "In a year's time, we would like to be in a position where GPs are actively encouraging older people to access their community pharmacy regularly to help with their medicines management and we have reviewed the current cap on medicine use reviews.€