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A novel pharmacy-led mental health service has freed up 1,500 hours of psychiatrist time and saved the health service an estimated £114,000, a mental health trust has said. 

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust said integrating pharmacists and pharmacy technicians into community mental health teams (CMHTs) freed up doctor time to “focus on people with the most complex needs” and “improved how medicines are used for people with severe mental illness”.

Still in its early roll-out stages, the scheme sees patients receiving clozapine prescribed and monitored in a community setting rather than in hospital, and has demonstrated “sustained improvements in medication safety” said the trust, adding that between 2024 and 2025 38 per cent of patients avoided an inpatient admission while receiving the drug. 

The trust said patient feedback has been “highly positive” with all surveyed patients satisfied with the support they received from pharmacy. 

Jag Bahia, chief pharmacist with Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust, commented: “If we are serious about improving patient experiences and moving care out of hospital and into the community, then we need to start thinking differently about how care is delivered. 

“This model shows what can be achieved when pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are fully embedded in community mental health teams. 

“It improves patient safety, releases medical capacity and supports the NHS 10-year plan to move care closer to home.”

Advanced lead CMHT pharmacist Tayo Bella said: “Being part of the community team allows us to get upstream of issues and prevent poor health. 

“Pharmacists are able to identify risks early, improve physical health monitoring and support patients to better understand and engage with their medicines.”