Smarter prescribing is critical to improve outcomes while driving down NHS costs
3 min read
The NHS is one of our greatest institutions but is also under enormous pressure – waiting times remain far too high, staff morale is low, and the system has been pushed to breaking point.
We hear a lot about the NHS being inefficient, and unresponsive to people’s broader needs, frequently failing to address the bigger picture. Far too many people are stuck in a cycle of overtreatment, which delivers overspending by the NHS and under delivery. If we are serious about fixing it, we have to be honest about what is not working. Smarter prescribing is a big part of that.
Too many people are prescribed long-term combinations of medication with no review, no clear end-point, and often very little improvement to their quality of life. One area of real concern is polypharmacy, where older people in particular are taking five, 10 or even more medications at once. This brings risks of side effects, drug interactions and reduced independence. But this is not just an issue for older people. It affects others too, including those managing chronic pain, mental health conditions and ADHD.
As someone with ADHD, I know how it feels to be given a diagnosis and then simply handed medication, with little discussion about other options or support. It can feel like a one-size-fits-all approach. For many people, it leaves them stuck.
When medication is hard to access or stops working, people often look elsewhere. A YouGov poll found that around 1.8 million people in the UK are using cannabis bought illegally to manage symptoms of chronic physical or mental health conditions. Others turn to alcohol. People are not doing this to break the law. They are doing it because the health system has not offered them better alternatives.
I have spoken with patients who, through their own research and persistence, have been able to access legal treatments, including medical cannabis, that have had a genuinely positive impact on their pain, wellness and ability to live a full life. Polling from Alternaleaf UK found that 96.6 per cent of patients agreed that medical cannabis has improved their well-being and happiness.
But, in many cases, these treatments were never mentioned or signposted by a medical professional. That is not how care should work.
This is not about promoting one type of treatment. It is about recognising that people are different, and doctors should be supported to offer the full range of legal and evidence-based options.
We also need to scale up access to talking therapies, expand social prescribing, and make sure people get help early, not just in a crisis.
The Liberal Democrats believe in a health service that is compassionate, modern and fair. Smarter prescribing will not fix everything, but it is one of the most straightforward and practical changes we can make. It could improve lives and ease pressure on the NHS at the same time.
