Polypharmacy – commonly defined as taking five or more medicines at the same time – is increasingly common in the UK. As more people live longer with multiple long-term health conditions, the number of medicines they take often increases. This can create a significant burden for the person trying to manage multiple medicines, as well as potentially causing harm. It also adds a cost to the healthcare system.
The Sunday Times is publishing a number of articles as part of its ‘Prescription Trap’ campaign, which launched in September. It is calling on the NHS and government to stop the harm caused by overprescribing medication for older patients. Here are their three calls for action:
- All medical students must learn the risks of mixing medicines and receive training for how and when to de-prescribe.
- The NHS should ensure that anyone over 65 who is considered frail and taking 10+ medications is invited for an annual review of their drug regimen.
- 1,850 more geriatricians must be trained by 2030 to ensure there is one doctor for every 500 patients aged 85 and over.
In one of his articles, Health Editor Shaun Lintern says that analysis of NHS data reveals that 1,000 older people a day are admitted for emergency care in hospital after suffering a preventable reaction to a drug they are taking. He writes: ‘Almost eight million people in the UK are at risk of medical side effects because they are being prescribed five or more drugs to take daily. About 2.2 million take ten drugs a day, a study published this year has revealed.’
Preventing Problematic Polypharmacy programme
The Health Innovation Network’s Preventing Problematic Polypharmacy programme started in June 2026, and builds on the successful national Polypharmacy programme that ran from 2022-25. It will run for the next three years, initially covering the East Midlands, Wessex and the West of England. Its aim is to reduce the risk of harm caused by problematic polypharmacy in older people and those living with frailty.
One of the programme’s key pillars is education and learning. The Vivensa Foundation is funding a new series of action learning sets (ALS). Previously, this evidence-based training model upskilled over 1,300 GPs, pharmacists and prescribers. It resulted in 83% of participants making tangible changes to their prescribing practice.
You can learn more about the ALS model here. And you can register your interest to join a future Polypharmacy Action Learning Set course here.
Lunchtime Learning: Getting the balance right
Our inaugural Lunchtime Learning session will take place on 22 October, 12-12.30pm. Amy Semple and Clare Howard from Health Innovation West of England will discuss the issues of problematic polypharmacy. Reserve your space here.