Age Action has called for immediate action by the Minister for Health, the medical and pharmacological training and regulatory bodies, nursing home management and health service providers to a disturbing report published today on the levels of potential  inappropriate prescribing in Irish nursing homes.

The research, funded by CARDI, found that  when data for residents in nursing homes in the greater Cork area was analysed it showed that 73% were prescribed one or more potentially inappropriate medications, and 16.5% were prescribed three or more potentially inappropriate medicines.

Benezodiazepines were the most commonly potentially inappropriately prescribed medication, according to the researchers from UCC, Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Ulster and Bandon Community Hospital.  Research dating back 25 years has warned of the link between this type of medication and falls and the risk of fractures among patients.

“This is just the latest in a series of research papers – many of which have been published in peer-reviewed journals – which have warned of the high levels of inappropriate prescribing for older patients in Ireland, both in nursing homes and in the wider community,” Mr Timmins said.  “But, to date, there has been no significant move by the authorities to address the issue.

“The implications of these findings are very serious for the potential threat posed for older people’s health, as well as the huge sums being paid by the State for medications which are not only not needed, but which may in fact be damaging people’s health.”

“Those with responsibility for the regulation and training of health professionals must address this problem and ensure adequate models of care are in place, as a matter of urgency,” Mr Timmins said.  “We are calling on the Minister for Health to ensure they do so.”

“After today’s research older people who are on multiple medications will rightly ask if the medication they are taking is the most appropriate for them,” Mr Timmins said. “The public must have confidence in those who responsible for their care.”

Age Action expressed its concern that such  high levels of inappropriate prescribing were occurring among nursing home residents where three-monthly reviews are required under HIQA standards.  However, with 95% of older people living in the community, and one-fifth of these on five or more medications, the full scale of this problem for older people in Ireland  is considerably greater.

Further details of the research are available from www.cardi.ie

FOR MEDIA QUERIES ABOUT AGE ACTION’S COMMENTS, CONTACT EAMON TIMMINS, HEAD OF ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS, 087-9682449.