NHS South Yorkshire proud to have won an Innovate Award for Safer Prescribing

NHS South Yorkshire’s Medicines Optimisation Team Doncaster Place have been awarded the category winner for Enabling Safer Systems of Care Through Innovation. Recognising an outstanding contribution to safer systems of care through safer prescribing of opioids.

The prestigious national award was presented following a thorough judging process, with over 119 entries from other NHS organisations across the country.

The ‘Safer Prescribing of Opioids’ initiative was developed following a report from Public Health England which showed Doncaster as having one of the highest rates of opioid prescribing in the country during 2020-21.

September 2021 saw Phase One of the ICB’s ‘Time to Stop’ campaign launched in Doncaster to raise awareness of opioid abuse and to help those dependant on them to take safer alternatives.

Patients were encouraged to seek reviews of their medication with their GP and for GPs to actively review patients on repeat painkiller prescriptions, providing effective alternate options for managing pain to help patients stay well long-term.

Dr David Crichton, Chief Medical Officer at NHS South Yorkshire and Doncaster GP said: “We are very proud of our colleagues in Doncaster who have won a national Innovate award”.

“Reducing the prescribing of opioids has been a priority for Doncaster and it is great to see the fruits of this three-year programme improving the lives of people with chronic pain conditions.”

Chioma Nnamdi (MOT Practice Team Lead) and the project lead said “Due to the immense hard work, dedication and amazing results, this piece of work has continued to gain national recognition, first by being the proud winner of a highly commended award from PRESCQIPP in 2022. Now, we are delighted to be the proud category winner for Enabling Safer Systems of Care Through Innovation at the National Innovate Awards 2023”.

“Since the start of the project, there has been massive culture shifts in prescribing opioids both in primary and secondary care resulting in approximately 20% reduction in prescription opioids in Doncaster”.