The Chair of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, Nick Ramsay AM, has made the following statement in response to the Wales Audit Office report concerning medicines management arrangements.
Mr Ramsay said:
“Receiving a prescription is one of the most common interactions patients have with the NHS. It is essential that NHS bodies have good medicines management arrangements in place to ensure patient safety, service efficiency and cost control.
“It is encouraging to note the NHS in Wales is taking positive steps to improve medicines management. However, the Auditor General’s report shows that there is still much to do to ensure the safe and cost effective use of medicines in Wales.
“In particular there is a need to improve the exchange of information between primary and secondary care, to understand the extent of medicines related admissions to hospital, and to take concerted action to reduce the level of drug wastage.
“I expect NHS bodies and the Welsh Government to work together to understand and address the issues identified in the Auditor General’s report and to ensure the necessary arrangements are in place to support the optimal use of medicines in NHS Wales.”
The Public Accounts Committee will be considering the Auditor General’s report in the New Year.