A scheme to help cut avoidable hospital admissions and reduce drug wastage in Cornwall has been recognised with a national award.

The scheme, which was honoured at the 2016 Healthcare Transformation Awards, identified elderly and frail people who would be suitable for a review of their medicines.

This included people who had been on the same medication for many years.

Community pharmacists made 150 visits to people in their homes as part of the initiative.

Research has shown that 6.5 per cent of emergency hospital admissions are associated with avoidable adverse drug reactions, which are more common among the elderly. As a result of the community pharmacists’ work, 30.5 per cent of people who took part in the pilot were likely to have avoided an unplanned hospital admission, with a further 37 per cent of people possibly prevented from having an emergency admission.

NHS Kernow chairman Dr Iain Chorlton, of Gunnislake, said: ‘Congratulations to our prescribing team, community pharmacists, doctors and nurses who have championed this way of working to support people. I am incredibly proud them.’