An NHS trust has produced a new short film series to highlight a scheme to stop the over-medication of people with a learning disability or autism (June 18). 

Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) in County Durham and North Yorkshire helped to film a three-part short film along with patients, staff, pharmacists and disability charity Skills for People to show the benefits of the Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability and autistic people (STOMP) scheme. 

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The scheme aims to “challenge inappropriate or over-prescribing of antipsychotic medicine” according to TEWV. 

The medications are dispensed by community pharmacists, but TEWV told C+D the scheme is helping primary care network (PCN) pharmacists to “undertake holistic structured medicine reviews (SMRs)” for those with a learning disability or autism.

Public Health England estimates “up to 35,000 adults with a learning disability, autism or both” are taking prescribed antipsychotics without a serious mental illness diagnosis. 

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Using the drugs over a long period of time can lead to health issues so STOMP is designed to work with pharmacists in reviewing and reducing medication where appropriate. 

The short films are being sent to pharmacists across the UK and have been shared on NHS England’s Futures platform as it will be used as an educational tool for NHS medical staff. 

Award-winning scheme 

36-year-old Anne Marie features in the films as she said her experience on the medication “made life dull and boring”.  

She is one of hundreds in the TEWV area to have undergone support from the STOMP scheme. 

“STOMP has really helped me, and I hope the film will now help others as well,” she said. 

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The new STOMP films have a guide on what to expect while taking part in the scheme as well as having information on the importance of medicine reviews. 

Pharmacist Keavney Houghton appears in the film, and she said STOMP is a “really amazing project to be involved in” and that “we are aiming for a gold standard in medicine reviews”. 

TEWV primary care liaison nurse Claire Donnelly and TEWV advanced nurse Sue Sargeant won learning disability nurses of the year at the British Journal of Nursing (BJN) Award in March for their roles in the project. 

Donnelly hopes the film will continue to “raise awareness” of the scheme and Sargeant said “people are often surprised at how much better they feel”. 

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“This is not just about medication; it’s about improving the quality of life for people. We have seen many changes for the better since the launch of STOMP,” Sargeant said. 

The short film series were released as the government released new guidance last month (June 19) for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on learning, disability and autism. 

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It will help “ensure health and care staff have skills to provide care for people with a learning disability and autistic people” who often face health inequalities.  

The training was named after Oliver McGowan who was “repeatedly prescribed antipsychotic medications despite medical notes highlighting his severe adverse reactions to these drugs” and this was “against his and his family’s wishes”.