1. How can I get involved in the project?
At this time we are not expanding the project to bring on additional pharmacies or GP practices. However, the Project Board is looking closely at rolling out the information used for the Project to all interested community pharmacists in the future. As a first step it is suggested that community pharmacists log onto this website, and monitor the updating of the information on a regular basis.

2. How were the nine areas chosen?
The areas were chosen from 33 bids and assessed against criteria set by the Project Board and then sampled by the research team to give a balanced rural and urban, ethnic and socio-economic mix. The project had always been intended to run in up to 10 areas and the Project Board were fortunate to receive such an excellent set of bids for pilot status - which provided the choice needed for good research coverage.

3. How many people are involved in the PSNC Medicines Management trial?
3,000 patients will be approached. Almost 50 GP Practices and 65 community pharmacies are involved in the trial.

4. How are the pilots being funded?
The Department of Health is providing at least £1.5 million from the Pharmacy Programme for the trial to take place.

5. How can I find official Government policy documents on Medicines Management?
Under the NHS Plan, the Government produced the Pharmacy in the Future - Implementing the NHS Plan document. The document stated that the Government will invest additional resources specifically to secure better use of medicines in the NHS. They promised to invest £30 million in three years. You can read more about the document by visiting http://www.doh.gov.uk/pharmacyfuture/

6. Are any other trials running parallel to the PSNC trials?
The National Prescribing Centre (NPC), an NHS organisation is managing an initiative, known as the Medicines Management Collaborative. The MMS collaborative, hosted by the National Prescribing Centre, is using a proven improvement methodology for continuous quality improvement. It involves the adoption and spread of known good medicines management practice across participating sites, which are all working together towards a common goal. Namely, to optimise prescribing and improve health outcomes and patient experiences, where medicines are involved. It will provide improved access to a range of medicines management services in primary care, through multidisciplinary working which makes better use of pharmacist's skills.

7. Are any other countries involved in the trials?
Other countries are running their own versions of the trial. These include Australia, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic Of Ireland, Scotland, Spain Sweden, Wales and US.

8. Are there any plans to expand the trial?
At present, the trial will be conducted with patients suffering from coronary heart disease. There are no solid plans as yet to take the trial into other areas but it is expected that the trial will be extended, particularly to patients suffering from other chronic conditions or on multiple medications in the future, as the efficacy of the Community Pharmacy model of intervention is demonstrated.