In this episode we will be talking about how and why polypharmacy happens and think about some strategies and tools to aid safe deprescribing. 

Knowledge:
To be able to describe what polypharmacy is and the impact it may have on patients.
To know when to explore polypharmacy and deprescribing.

Skills:
To be able to signpost patients to have their medications reviewed.
To have a framework to structure you approach to ongoing medication use.
To drive shared decision making in prescription management with older people.

Attitudes:
Raise the awareness and get the public  and patients  engaged with the drive to reduce inappropriate polypharmacy.
To understand that there is a cultural shift needed in public awareness that multiple medicines in older age may cause harm.

Show notes are available to view and download at www.thehearingaidpodcasts.org.uk for more detail and curriculum mapping against Foundation, CMT, GPVTS, Geriatric Registrar, ANP and NHS Knowledge Skills Framework (KSF) programmes.

Presented by: Dr Iain Wilkinson and Dr Jo Preston, Consultant Geriatricians and Samantha Lungu, Dementia Nurse Consultant.

Contributing Faculty: Dan Thomas, Geriatrics Registrar.