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<p>It is important that patients, including those with cystic fibrosis, get those
high cost drugs provided through homecare services on time.</p><p> </p><p>The Department
commissioned a review of homecare medicine supply arrangements to ensure they deliver
the best value for patients, the National Health Service and the provider market.
The review report, <em>Homecare Medicines: </em><em>Towards a Vision for the Future,</em>
was published in December 2011 and is available at:</p><p> </p><p>http://media.dh.gov.uk/network/121/files/2011/12/111201-Homecare-Medicines-Towards-a-Vision-for-the-Future2.pdf</p><p>
</p><p>The outcome of subsequent improvement work is summarised in the further report,
<em>Homecare Medicines: Towards a Vision for the Future - Taking Forward the Recommendations</em>,
published in May 2014 and available at:</p><p> </p><p>www.uhns.nhs.uk/AboutUs/NHSHomecareMedicinesinEngland.aspx</p><p>
</p><p>NHS England issued a patient safety alert on minimising the risks of omitted
and delayed medicines for patients receiving homecare services on 10 April 2014. This
recommended that all healthcare organisations that commission clinical homecare services:</p><p>-
establish if medicine homecare services were used by their organisation and if incidents
of omitted and delayed medicines had occurred;</p><p>- consider whether immediate
action needed to be taken locally and, if required, develop an action plan, to reduce
risk and the potential risk to patients;</p><p>- disseminate the alert to all medical,
nursing, pharmacy and other staff involved in the care of homecare patients; and</p><p>-
report patient safety incidents concerning homecare to the National Reporting and
Learning Service.</p><p> </p><p>A copy of the patient safety alert is available at:</p><p>
</p><p>www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/psa-omitted-delayed-meds.pdf</p><p>
</p><p>The Department continues to work with NHS England, homecare companies, pharmaceutical
suppliers and the NHS to ensure that homecare arrangements are safe and deliver value
for the NHS and improved outcomes for patients.</p><p> </p>
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