Hospital pharmacy committees in England: Their structure, function, and development

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Hospital Pharmacy Management
• Pharmaceutical Policy

Background:

• Pharmacy committees play a crucial role in hospital drug management.
• Understanding the structure and function of these committees is essential for optimizing pharmaceutical services.
• Previous research on the prevalence and scope of pharmacy committees in English hospitals is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey the structure and role of pharmacy committees in English hospitals.
• To identify trends in the establishment and operation of these committees.
• To assess the perceived impact of pharmacy committees on drug management.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 150 chief and group chief pharmacists in England.
• Data collected included information on the existence, scope, terms of reference, membership, and appointment of pharmacy committees.
• Pharmacists' perceptions of the committees' impact on drug supply and use were also gathered.

Main Results:

• Just over half of surveyed hospitals had a pharmacy committee.
• Approximately two-thirds of committees focused solely on pharmacy matters, while one-third addressed broader issues.
• The establishment of committees showed a significant increase after 1967.
• Committee terms of reference, membership, and appointment varied widely.
• Prominent subjects included drug costs and new prescribing sheets.
• Many respondents believed committees, often with support groups, improved local drug supply and use.

Conclusions:

• Hospital pharmacy committees are prevalent in England and have become more common since 1967.
• These committees address diverse pharmacy-related issues, with a notable focus on cost and prescribing practices.
• There is a general consensus among pharmacists that these committees positively influence local drug management.
• Further research could explore the specific mechanisms through which committees achieve these improvements.