According to new research, placing pharmacies inside of nursing homes makes the residents there safer.
49 homes across the UK participated in the six-year University of Leicester study that tested onsite pharmacies.
The study, which was reported in the BMJ, also claimed that some general practitioners' workloads had been lightened.
There has been "a significant reduction in potential future harm from medications," according to the professor who co-led the study.
The Care Home Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Study (CHIPPS), which was sponsored by NHS Norfolk Waveney, was directed by the university.
It was discovered that residents of care homes were frequently given an average of eight or more medications.
Both the government and regulatory organizations view the use of medications as one of the primary sources of risk in care home environments.
According to researchers, one study found that 70% of nursing home residents made drug mistakes every day, and there had been frequent calls for interventions to help improve the management of medications.
A randomised controlled trial was carried out by CHIPPS in residences throughout England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
25 independent pharmacist prescribers with specialized training who were integrated into homes to enhance medication management and safety participated in the study.
According to the study, the pharmacists' presence reduced harm and was well-liked by GPs, managers of care facilities, and residents.
David Wright, the project's director and the dean of the university's school of healthcare, a professor of health services research, said: "I am thrilled that the culmination of this six-year program of work, undertaken by an incredible group of researchers, clinicians, and patient representatives, has produced this result. .
"Additionally, some GPs reported that our pharmacist-led intervention reduced their workload because they no longer had to regularly review and authorise a significant number of repeat prescriptions, and the pharmacist prescribers took on some of their care home responsibilities.
"The findings support the expansion of the pharmacist's current role in nursing homes to include prescription writing and regular visits, as this lowers the risk of medication-related harm in the future and aids in the management of medications by nursing homes. ".
The project's co-leader, Prof. Richard Holland, stated: "A significant reduction in potential future harm from medications is. a indicator of potential clinical advantage.
"This study offers crucial support for the creation of care delivery models in nursing homes, which we believe should incorporate pharmacist independent prescribers. ".
The study also looked at whether on-site pharmacies could lessen the number of falls among residents of nursing homes, but it found no discernible impact.
While it was disappointing that we were unable to significantly reduce falls, Prof. Holland noted that our process evaluation offered one possible explanation. .
"We found that less than a quarter of pharmacist interventions may increase the likelihood of falls, and a small percentage may increase it.
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