Research and Publications
Our department continues to work towards developing a strong research culture. We are already seeing the positive impact that engaging with research could have not only to an individual’s professional & personal development, but also for raising the profile of the department and the organisation.
In 2021, we successfully bid against 33 others (3 NHS Trusts were successful) to win a grant to fund an academic interns. In 2023/24, we took part in our second year of participating in the HEE clinical academic internship programme.
We have pharmacy staff that are actively engaged in research and part of the South West Pharmacy Research Network.
Here are some of our posters and publications:
Clinical Pharmacy Congress 2025: Find us on Stand D50
We will be sharing some of our work in the poster zone.
Chiara Ho, trainee pharmacist worked with Siow Chin (Livewell SW) to evaluate benzodiazepine prescribing and discharging practices in comparison to guidance Benzodiazepine prescribing review [pdf] 849KB
Sadie Parry, Trainee pharmacist worked with Anneka Mitchell to evaluate whether clinical recommendations from our falls clinic were being implemented by general practice Falls clinic advice review [pdf] 398KB
Natasha Nawaz, Trainee Pharmacist worked with Affreen Mohammed (Drake Medical Alliance) to audit practice and implement an effective pregnancy prevention programme protocol for Topiramate Pregnancy Prevention Programme Topiramate [pdf] 385KB
Ahmed Yousif, Trainee Pharmacist worked with Peter Gray to audit how well triple antiplatelet therapy after myocardial infarction (heart attack) is managed Triple Antiplatelet Therapy audit [pdf] 607KB
Chris Judson, Associate chief pharmacist for Aseptics, cancer and clinical trials worked with others to enhance patient safety and patient experience by ensuring timely delivery of chemotherapy before the patient's scheduled appointment Timely delivery of chemotherapy [pdf] 702KB
Claire Foyle, Lead Pharmacist for Neonate worked with others to implement change around prescribing insulin infusions for neonates, without the use of electronic prescribing systems Insulin sticker improvement work [pdf] 887KB
Darashna Moodley, Associate Chief Pharmacist for Governance & Medication Safety and Medication Safety Officer worked with others to review medicines that had been tampered with in the post Tampered medicines in the post [pdf] 4MB
Beverley Harwood Lead Pharmacist for Clinical Commissioning and Medicines Optimisation worked with her team to introduce a governance process for approving and monitoring biosimilar switch backs Biosimilar switchback [pdf] 716KB
Research Grants and Clinical Research
May 2023 to May 2024: NIHR-HEE Postdoctoral bridging award
One of our pharmacists, who is working 1 day a week on a study. The study is using routinely collected healthcare data to evaluate prescribing of drugs that increase falls risk in people who are newly diagnosed with dementia including their association with falls post dementia diagnosis.
May 2024 for 2 years: NIHR Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research award
The SCPRA is to complete a Health Services Modelling Associates course to improve data science and operational research skills. This will also have secondments with the University of Exeter and Research Institute for Care of Older people in Bath.
UK AR study
One of our pharmacists is a principal investigator of this study
Outstanding Pharmacy Early-career Researcher Award (OPERA) 2024:
This award aims to recognise and celebrate the work of researchers working within pharmacy who demonstrate potential to achieve world-leading status. This year amonst others, Anneka Mitchell, Lead Pharmacist for Healthcare of Older People, Frailty, and Medicine was recognised. Find out more details and about her journey into research:
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Read about Anneka Mitchel in the OPERA 2024 article from the pharmaceutical journal.
Trainee Pharmacists
SW Region NHSE WT&E Best Poster Award 2024:
Joshua Fallon won best poster prize at this year's regional event held at Home Park on 10th July 2024.
Josh was selected from a cohort of over 100 trainees within the southwest region. The judging panels consisted of NHSE WT&E delegates and a selection of pharmacists from across the SW region. Joshua Fallon's award winning poster[pdf] 252KB
Healthcare Of Older People
Anneka Mitchell with TJ Welsh, M Watson and others A Macgrogan shared last PhD research findings about anticoagulation use in older people. 1) Safety and effectiveness of anticoagulation therapy in older people with atrial fibrillation during exposed and unexposed treatment periods 2) Older patients can inadvertently be put at risk when they are taken off blood-thinning drugs
Anneka Mitchell worked with T.J Welsh to summarise the evidence for deprescribing alpha-blockers and centrally acting antihypertensives in older people at risk of falls and to assist clinicians in deciding how to safely de-prescribe these agents. Centrally acting antihypertensives and alpha-blockers in people at risk of falls: therapeutic dilemmas—a clinical review
Anneka Mitchell and Yasmin Elmasry worked with Eveline van Poelgeest and Tomas Welsh to summarise the existing knowledge on the benefits of anticoagulants, and adverse events associated with falling whilst taking these medications, to assist clinicians in decisions on safe prescribing and deprescribing of anticoagulants. Anticoagulant use in older persons at risk for falls: therapeutic dilemmas—a clinical review
Anneka Mitchell, J Snowball, T J Welsh and others Safety of direct oral anticoagulants vs. warfarin for people aged over 75 with atrial fibrillation
Urgent and Emergency Care
Odran Farrell and Antony Mitchell presented "Poisonings: What happens after A&E" at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress on 13th May 2022. The duo subsequently published " Management of poisonings: the pharmacist's role" in the Pharmaceutical Journal on 19th May 2023.
A.G. Sinclair, A Mitchell, S. Bhagwanji Assessing the impact on workflow of placing a Pharmacy team in an emergency department (ED)
General Pharmacy Medicine
Brian Fulton, Becky Ellis and Gemma Lawty (Senior Pharmacy Technicians Education and Training) published how they customised a pharmacy technician apprenticeship to for the Aseptics department
Tiffany Barrett showcased how technology and innovation in a hybrid Medicines Information and advice service works in reality Tiffany Barrett poster UKMI 2025.pdf [pdf] 773KB
Andrea Losbanes and Anneka Mitchell reviewed How good the team at UHP are at preventing nicotine withdrawal in patients and presented their findings at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress, 12 to 13 May 2023 Andrea Losbanes and Anneka Mitchell
A G Sinclair, J Ellick, M Kehoe, L Hall, K Lamb, A Norman and M D Jones Service evaluation of the efficiency of moving discharge medicine request screening from the dispensary to hospital wards over a two-year period
Critical Care
James Lamb presented at the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists 2025, his findings on the impact of pharmacists reviewing medication after discharge from ICU James Lamb: EAHP poster critical care follow up [pdf] 399KB
Odran Farrell presented at the UKCPA conference 2024, findings of medicines reconciliation in critical care units Odran Farrell UKCPA Conference poster [pdf] 128KB
Clinical Commissioning and High Cost Drugs
Kerry Dixon presented her improvement project Homecare Prescription and Invoice Management Improvement Poster at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress, 12 May 2023
Antimicrobials
Mo (Jonah) Kwok, Katie L Heard, Anthony May and others Health outcomes of penicillin alllergy testing in children
M Rela, D Peberdy, K Heard, R Fok. E-Prescribing and Smart Antimicrobial Stewardship in Upper Limb Infections
Strategy and Workforce
Kandarp Thakkar shared his views at the 2023 UKCPA conference
Vivek Soni How to write a business case for a new pharmacy service.
Devon Teach and Treat Pilot
Victoria Webb is the Independent Prescribing Clinical Lead and Strategic Lead for Devon Teach & Treat Pilot. The Teach and Treat Pilot was set up in May 2023 to enable and support community pharmacists to upskill and become independent prescribers. In Sept 2023, 11 community pharmacists started their prescribing qualification. Read the teach and treat case study by Vicky Webb
Vicky presented a poster summarising the output of hers and the Devon Teach and Treat steering group at the South West Pharmacy Research Network Innovation Day hosted by University of Bath on the 18th October 2023. Devon Teach and Treat poster.pdf[pdf] 907KB
Devon Teach and Treat accessible poster content.pdf[pdf] 287KB
Clinical Pharmacy Congress LONDON, 10th & 11th May 2024:
We presented 8 posters and abstracts of some our excellent work.
Sofia Karmieh & Ailene Barclay: Compliance with Devon formulary for inhaler prescribing at Derriford Hospital.pdf [pdf] 143KB POSTER.pdf [pdf] 876KB
Bev Harwood & Vivek Soni: Biosimilar ranibizumab poster CPC May 2024 final.pdf [pdf] 345KB. This was also presented at the Plymouth Research and Development Health and Care Research Conference 3rd May 2024.
Pamela Nyatanga, Vivek Soni & Kandarp Thakkar: Development and implementation of transition training programme for EEA qualified pharmacists recruited here.pdf [pdf] 326KB
Lisa Girvin, Ailene Barclay, Kerry Dixon, Bev Harwood and Vivek Soni: Implementing Robust Governance Processes to Effectively Manage Free of Charge Medicine Supplies at UHP.pdf [pdf] 853KB
Darashna Moodley, Karen Savva & Sharon Stone: Introduction of a Medicines Management Competence Framework for Nurses.pdf [pdf] 530KB
Kerry Dixon, Bev Harwood & Vivek Soni: NHSE Challenge Process Improvement Poster May 2024 CPC.pdf [pdf] 589KB
Siobhan Fahy & Ann Mason: Reduction of Use of Plastic Overshoes within a cleanroom environment.pdf [pdf] 425KB
Victoria Webb: Supporting Community Pharmacist Independent Prescribing.pdf [pdf] 4MB . This was the poster winner and was also presented at the Plymouth Research and Development Health and Care Research Conference 3rd May 2024.
