Personalised Medication Support Service (PMSS) NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Patients who are prescribed multiple medications can need support in taking them, and there are often problems with non-adherence if this support is not provided.

Research undertaken as part of phase one of this project found that many patients did not have access to appropriate advice and guidance, and that there is a need for more effective, personalised support for older people who are struggling to manage multiple medications. 

There are smart or intelligent assistive technologies that could support people with sensory or cognitive impairments to take their medications. This project will explore the idea of a Personalised Medication Support Service (PMSS), provided as a partnership with health sector and third sector orgnisations, who would have the flexibility to provide a holistic, personalised service to a larger number of service users than is currently possible. The PMSS would provide advice and guidance, together with a range of digital medication aids, beyond which is currently provided.

Phase two (testing ideas) of the project will first involve analysing data on referrals to evaluate the effectiveness of different routes and means of identifying people who might need help with medications and assessing whether they would benefit from the PMSS. 

There are a variety of options for the assistive technologies that could be used. These technologies will be piloted with service users during a trial. This will allow the team to test whether the technologies are suitable for wide-scale deployment. 

Contact information

For more information about this project, please contact Debbie Campbell, Chief Pharmacist, NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB or Nigel Harris, Visiting Professor, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of the West of England.