This Symposium, from the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, is focused on patients’ adherence to medicines; that is, the extent to which patients take their medications as prescribed.

In its report on Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action, the World Health Organization estimated that half of those for whom treatment regimens are prescribed do not follow them as directed. Medication non-adherence costs the NHS in excess of £500m per year, and represents a significant burden in terms of increased morbidity and mortality.

This symposium is aimed for health professionals to understand:

The Problems – including the magnitude of non-adherence, and associated challenges such as polypharmacy

The Determinants – which are the reasons why patients may be non-adherent, whether intentional or otherwise, and how these are influenced by their understanding, their contexts of care and available support

The Interventions – technological approaches and lessons from public health to enable behaviour change

The Solutions – implementing effective adherence interventions

The day will be of interest to a wide range of medical professionals – consultant physicians, GPs and trainees from many disciplines, pharmacists, nurses and health practitioners. It also provides a good opportunity to network with colleagues, and participate in a panel discussion.

Chairs:

Professor Matt Makin, Medical Director and Responsible Officer, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Professor Peter Trainer, Director, RCPE Manchester/ MAHSC Clinical Director

Adele Torkington, Deputy Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager, Manchester Foundation Trust​

Dr Tracey Vell MBE, Associate Lead for Primary and Community Care, Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership