To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the current public engagement initiatives to raise awareness of medicines management, including the use of prescription medication.

Current public engagement initiatives to raise awareness of medicines management and the use of prescription medication include an initiative by the Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Policing and Community Safety Partnerships and Drug and Alcohol Coordination Teams on the roll out of a drug disposal scheme (RAPID) which allows people to dispose of illicit drugs and unwanted prescribed medication.

The PHA has also commissioned the charity, ASCERT, to deliver a range of substance misuse awareness courses to professionals working in both the statutory and voluntary/community sectors across Northern Ireland; one of these courses covers prescribed medication. Awareness initiatives about risks around unsafe use of prescribed medication are also supported by the PHA.

The Health & Social Care Board (HSCB) has been engaging with the public recently to raise awareness in relation to medicines waste and the impact on health and social care. Other initiatives by the HSCB include the introduction of a pain tool kit, an awareness campaign on how to manage respiratory conditions such as asthma, a self-awareness campaign and the ‘Choose well’ campaign which is designed to help patients make the right decision on which services they choose based on their symptoms.

In addition, my Department has recently published a Medicines Optimisation Quality Framework which aims to support better health outcomes by focusing attention on gaining the best possible outcome from medicines every time that they are prescribed, dispensed or administered. Patient involvement is a key aspect of the Framework and in that context, work is ongoing with the Department of Finance and Personnel to organise an Innovation Lab to help understand peoples’ experiences of their medicines. The Patient and Client Council is engaged in that initiative in gathering views from patients.