Availability of pharmacy services within acute medicine: analysis from the Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit 2022

Objectives Patients seen in acute medicine services are at high risk of medication errors and subsequent harm. Pharmacy services within acute medicine or emergency departments have been shown to reduce medication errors and improve patient outcomes. However, there is a limited understanding of the national provision of pharmacy services within acute medicine. We aimed to evaluate the current availability of pharmacy services for acute medicine patients in the UK. Methods Data were collected through an organizational survey of acute medicine departments nationally in June 2022. Questions aimed to evaluate the organization and availability of pharmacy services necessary to meet national guidance regarding medication reconciliation for acute admissions. Key findings Across 129 acute hospitals in the UK, 98% utilized pharmacy services for medicines reconciliation on the acute medical unit, however, only 36% of hospitals had access to these services from 9 am to 5 pm on the weekend, and only 16% had access throughout the out of hours period (Monday–Sunday, 5 pm–9 am). Availability of out-of-hours services did not appear to be related to hospital size (Chi-square P = .94). Pharmacy services were provided in the emergency department in 29% of hospitals, with only 12% providing 24/7 coverage. Conclusions There is considerable variation in pharmacy services accessible within acute medicine services nationally. Further research is required to understand this variability, its impact on clinical outcomes, and how this could best be addressed within acute medicine.