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Improving practice the Hospital Pharmacy Initiative revisited.

Masterton RG, Caldwell M

Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, The Ayr Hospital, Dalmellington Road, Ayr KA6 6DX, UK.

The Hospital Pharmacy Initiative was a pound12 million scheme introduced in England in 2003 and aimed at improving antimicrobial prescribing. Although significant successes have been claimed for the scheme, there is evidence which demonstrates that the untargeted and essentially undirected investment where no clear objectives were set has resulted in extremely variable developments with arguably minimal gains attributable to the programme. This contrasts strongly with the Scottish approach where form and function has been detailed with a focus on service sustainability in the ongoing challenge of improving prudent antimicrobial prescribing.

Published 14 September 2007 in J Antimicrob Chemother, 60(4): 709-11.
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