BURY is leading the way in its patient-focused approach to prescription drug spending.

By moving its emphasis from cost-saving to patient outcomes, Bury's spending on medicines has reduced from 21 per cent above the national average in 2009 to below the national average in 2018.

An annual saving of £60million could be made if Greater Manchester were to achieve the national average on its prescription spending, according to the chair and clinical lead of Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Dr Kiran Patel said: "A programme that started as a money-saving exercise has now moved to improving the quality of outcomes and improved patient safety.

"If we all got to the England average, there would be a £60million saving annually on our prescribing budget."

The CCG's first programme related to statins which are used to lower people's cholesterols. Bury CCG, which plans and commissions health care services in Bury, switched people who were previously prescribed statins to a lower-priced drug.

Dr Patel said: "Bury was one of the highest spenders in Greater Manchester but we were in the bottom 10 per cent of outcomes for that level of prescribing.

"We audited patients before and throughout the programme.

"We achieved higher compliance and better control as a result of the change."

A second programme saw the CCG manage repeat prescriptions to avoid drug wastage. As a result of joined-up working with practices, patients and pharmacists, the CCG's spending is now below the England average.

Dr Patel also gave the example of Bury's programme to reduce anti-psychotic drugs for people with learning difficulties.

He said: "I think my team are most proud of this work.

"There is a national call to reduce anti-psychotic drugs as they are harmful in the long-term, causing cardiovascular illnesses, as well as sedating and subduing patients.

"But it is thought to be too difficult to achieve."

A team systematically identified every patient on Bury's learning disability register who was receiving anti-psychotic medication.

Of 1,000 patients, a total of 200 were receiving these drugs. For those receiving anti-psychotic medication, the team worked with GP practices, pharmacists, care homes and others to review then reduce or change the dosage.

Dr Patel said: "Our output? We captured the stories where we had reduced dosages - the patients were more alert, able to engage more in activities, and generally felt better.

"So we have achieved this cost reduction and I would argue we have improved patient outcomes."

The principal GP at Greenmount Medical Centre presented the information at a board meeting of the GM Health and Social Care Strategy Partnership - the body which oversees the region's £6billion health and social care budget.