From January 2016 four medical wards at the Royal Blackburn Hospital were each allocated a dedicated pharmacist with no other commitments other than to their ward; an increased pharmacy technician presence was also provided.

The pharmacists took part in the daily multi-disciplinary consultant-led ward round, and the technicians focused on medicines reconciliation and discharge planning including creating the medicines sections of the patients’ discharge letters.

The impact on patient outcomes were measured and it was: a decreased length of stay, reduced re-admissions, reduced drug expenditure, earlier in the day discharges, improved medicines reconciliation, improved transfer of care, improved medicines safety, and improved staff and patient experience.