Lelly Oboh FRPharmS, Consultant Pharmacist for Older People at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service, has been appointed the RPS representative on the Government's Overprescribing Review.
The review was ordered by the Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock and will be led by Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Dr Keith Ridge. Addressing overprescribing is an important part of the Government’s prevention strategy.
Chair of the RPS in England Sandra Gidley said:
“We’re very pleased that RPS Fellow Lelly Oboh has been appointed to the Short Life Working Group of the Overprescribing Review.
“Taking too many medicines can have a huge impact on an individual’s health. Failure to address this can compromise patient safety so the review is very welcome.
“Pharmacists are an essential part of the team who can reduce the over-medication of patients. Recent RPS guidance Polypharmacy: Getting our medicines right supports those who work in this area. We look forward to seeing the outputs from this review benefit patients’ health and further integrate pharmacists into a variety of care settings.”
Lelly Oboh said: "This review will set the strategy for reducing inappropriate and unnecessary medicines for patients across the NHS. It will support pharmacists, doctors and other practitioners across health and social care to play a part, within their scope of practice, to reduce medicines related harm and improve outcomes for our patients. Also, it will empower patients and their carers to be actively engaged in the process. I look forward to being part of this important programme, which is a priority for the Secretary of State for Health.”
Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for NHS England, said: “I'm delighted that Lelly Oboh will be the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's representative on the National Overprescribing Review; as a consultant pharmacist regularly seeing patients with complex needs, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of polypharmacy at the front line of patient care, and will be a valuable member of the working group. I look forward to working with her on this important subject.”
Related resource:
Polypharmacy: Getting our medicines right