Medicines safety underpins our vision of pharmacists as guardians of patient safety and welfare, maximising the benefits of medicines and minimising the risks caused by adverse effects. It is a significant part of our outward facing role and continuing mission to present pharmacists to other healthcare professionals and the public as the ‘experts in medicines’.

In 2010 we held a medicines safety symposium which has helped to identify the issues upon which we need to focus. These include the need to improve medicines adherence and the pharmacist’s role in improving health literacy. Attention needs to be given to information on patient medication at the point of transfer of care, and the use of medicines in high risk settings such as care homes. Pharmacists need to be supported to be able to spend more time with their patients helping them to understand their medicines so they can be taken safely and as intended.

In order to develop this vision we will identify and promote best practice where pharmacists are making significant improvements in medicines safety. We will develop tools, standards and guidance that will support pharmacists in their work to improve the safety of medicines. Through the LPFs we will identify and share best practice and encourage local work to promote and develop the medicines safety role of pharmacists.

In addition, we will monitor the effect the NHS financial situation is having on pharmacists to ensure that it doesn’t impact on patient safety.

We will, through pharmacists, make Britain a safer place to take medicines.