Care home pharmacy services: How Pharmacists Improve Medication Safety for Vulnerable Residents

• 28th January 2026

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Care home pharmacy services play a central role in medicines management in care homes, reducing medication-related harm for some of the NHS’s most vulnerable patients. Residents often take eight or more medicines daily, face higher risks from polypharmacy, and depend on safe systems across health and social care. Clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians deliver structured medication reviews, medicines reconciliation, and ongoing safety support.

• Why are care home residents at higher risk from medicines?
• What do care home pharmacy services include?
• How do pharmacists improve medication safety in care homes?
• How can GP Federations and PCNs access care home pharmacy services?

Key Takeaways

• Care home residents face higher medicines-related harm than almost any other patient group
• Clinical pharmacist-led care home medication reviews reduce high-risk prescribing and improve safety
• Care home pharmacy services bridge gaps between GP practices, care homes, and community pharmacies

Why are care home residents at higher risk from medicines?

Care home residents experience more medicines-related harm due to polypharmacy, frailty, and fragmented care. Most take several high-risk medicines including anticoagulants, opioids, and antipsychotics. Age-related changes in kidney and liver function increase sensitivity to side effects, raising the risk of falls, confusion, and hospital admission.

Risk Factor	Impact
Polypharmacy	Multiple medicines increase interaction risk
Frailty	Reduced tolerance to side effects
Fragmented care	Handover errors between GP, pharmacy, and care home
Age-related changes	Altered kidney/liver function affects drug clearance

Communication gaps add further risk. Prescribing happens in general practice, dispensing in community pharmacy, and administration by care home staff. Each handover creates opportunity for error, particularly during hospital discharge.

What do care home pharmacy services include?

Care home pharmacy services are a core part of effective medicines management in care homes, covering the full medicines pathway:

• Care home medication review: Structured reviews focusing on deprescribing, reducing anticholinergic burden, and aligning treatment with goals of care
• Medicines reconciliation: Verifying medicines after hospital discharge to prevent omissions and dosing errors
• Administration support: Reviewing MAR charts, clarifying directions, and developing PRN protocols
• Monitoring: Ensuring blood tests and clinical checks for high-risk medicines
• Staff training: Practical education on medicines handling and documentation

How do pharmacists improve medication safety in care homes?

Pharmacists reduce harm by identifying medicines-related problems before they cause injury. Pharmacist-led medication reviews have been shown to reduce high-risk prescribing, including inappropriate antipsychotic use in dementia.

Working through general practice, pharmacists have access to clinical records and established GP relationships, allowing them to influence prescribing decisions at source. Pharmacy technicians support this work by leading on reconciliation, audit, and training.

Care home residents deserve the same quality of medicines oversight as any other patient group. When pharmacists and pharmacy technicians work alongside GPs and care home staff, we can identify risks earlier and improve quality of life for residents.

Adeem Azhar, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions

How can GP Federations and PCNs access care home pharmacy services?

GP Federations and PCNs can access care home pharmacy services through their existing pharmacy workforce or by partnering with specialist providers. The Enhanced Health in Care Homes framework sets out NHS expectations for proactive care, including structured medication reviews.

Core Prescribing Solutions supports medicines optimisation in care homes by embedding clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians within general practice teams.

For care home residents, safer medicines mean fewer harms and better quality of life. For the NHS, they represent a smarter way to deliver care at scale.

FAQs