Evidence-based audit and feedback

In response to the nationally commissioned Medicines Safety Improvement Programme (MedSIP), the Health Innovation Network has developed a local programme aiming to reduce opioid-related harm to patients experiencing chronic pain (non-cancer related).

This work is one of at least 15 Patient Safety Coalitions collaboratives (PCS) established at ICS level across the country. By March 2024, the aim is to have 30,000 fewer people prescribed oral or transdermal opioids (of any dose) for more than 3 months preventing ~484 deaths.

To support practices, they were provided with a resource pack signposting resources to support staff in general practice to review patients prescribed high-risk opioids (e.g. patients on opioids for more than 12 weeks for chronic pain and those prescribed high doses). The approach was modelled on a successful campaign undertaken by the West Yorkshire Research and Development team and their support enabled the production of opioid prescribing reports. 

Monthly reports were cascaded through medicines optimisation leads to general practices between November 2022 to March 2023. The reports were based on NHS BSA Opioid Prescribing Comparators dashboard, to help practices understand their own opioid prescribing trends and to increase awareness of the dashboard. The objective was to encourage a reduction in inappropriate prescribing of high-risk opioid prescribing in chronic pain.

The graph below highlights the impact of both the QI collaborative and evidence-based audit and feedback across general practices in south London.