STOMP

What is STOMP?

Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability and autistic people (STOMP) is a national NHS England initiative to stop the inappropriate prescribing of psychotropic medications.

Why is it important?

People with a learning disability and/or autistic people are more likely than the general population to be prescribed an antipsychotic.

How is our Trust supporting STOMP?

We have an award-winning STOMP team – advanced nurse practitioner, Sue Sargeant, and primary care liaison nurse, Claire Donnelly – who educate professionals about the effects of over-prescribing antipsychotic medication.

They provide training on:

• how this can affect the working of the brain
• the impact this might have on a person’s mood, thoughts and behaviour
• how long-term use can also lead to weight gain, organ failure, eye problems, seizures, sedation and, in some cases, premature death.

They also provide support to carry out robust, structured medication reviews and reduce dosages, if safe to do so.

What impact has there been?

Hundreds of people across Durham and Teesside have so far undergone medication reviews as part of STOMP, with many now seeing positive changes in their lives due to dosage reductions.

Innovative STOMP project

We’re working with people with lived experience as part of an innovative STOMP project. They have co-created an informative video to show people with a learning disability how a medication review should be carried out.

The video makes the process easy to understand and aims to help them get the support they need.

Ann-Marie and Barry were part of the project team and worked with our Trust to plan and produce the video.

Ann-Marie’s story

“I had a medication review that changed my life. The help I got made me feel happier in myself and feel better about the future.

“Being part of the STOMP project has been brilliant, I love being able to use my voice and experiences to help others.

“It was good writing our own scripts and a great experience filming in the GP surgery.”

Barry’s story

“I have lived experience of using Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust as an adult with a learning disability. It’s important for me to be able to use my experiences to help others.

“I have really enjoyed being part of the STOMP project. We wrote our own scripts and planned how we wanted the film to look.

“I think that the film will help to make sure people with a learning disability get the best support with their medication and that makes me feel very proud.”