DMS Performance in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland (LLR)

The NHS Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) is delivering strong outcomes across LLR, reinforcing its role as a vital link between hospital discharge and community pharmacy support.

Service Objectives

The DMS aims to:

• Improve medicines safety

• Reduce avoidable hospital readmissions

• Enhance patient understanding and adherence

• Strengthen communication across care settings

National Evidence Supporting DMS

• For every 10 DMS referrals, 1 avoidable re-admission is prevented.

• Cost of urgent admission due to an avoidable adverse drug reaction: £2,251.

• Research by Liverpool University (BMJ ) found:

  • 16.5% of hospital admissions were due to adverse drug reactions (ADRs)

  • 40.4% of these were avoidable or possibly avoidable

LLR Performance Snapshot

• ~1000 discharge referrals processed each month by community pharmacies.

• LLR had the highest DMS activity in the East Midlands in December 2024.

• Over 90% of referrals originated from:

  • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

  • Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

•  Success is underpinned by strong engagement from secondary care pharmacy teams.

Impact Example – December 2024

• Approx. 85 avoidable re-admissions prevented

• Estimated local NHS cost saving: £192,000