An award-winning Teesside project aimed at stopping the over medication of people with a learning disability or autism is celebrating a string of successes.
The STOMP scheme, which is backed by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, aims to challenge “inappropriate or over-prescribing” of antipsychotic medicine.
Hundreds of people across Teesside have so far undergone medication reviews as part of STOMP, with many now seeing positive changes in their lives due to dosage reductions.
“A lot of people are prescribed medication. Our role is to make sure it is the right one, at the lowest possible dose for the shortest time,” said Trust advanced nurse practitioner Sue Sargeant.
“We sometimes meet a bit of resistance, but we explain that if it doesn’t work, we will put the dosage back up. People are often surprised at how much better they feel.”
Changing lives by changing medication
Public Health England estimates that up to 35,000 adults with a learning disability, autism or both are taking prescribed antipsychotics daily without a diagnosis of serious mental illness.
Long-term use of these drugs can lead to weight gain, organ failure, eye problems, seizures, sedation and, in some cases, premature death.
“In the past it was often thought better to leave people on medication, rather than change what seemed to be working. That’s how people ended up on medicine for years,” said Sue.
“But we now know that this isn’t true for everyone. We are here to support pharmacists to carry out robust, structured medication reviews, and reduce dosages if safe to do so.”
Helping to improve quality of life
Success stories over the past year for the STOMP team include:
- A 66-year-old man who was first prescribed antipsychotics at 14 underwent a complete medicine review. After his dosage was adjusted, he is now “much brighter, alert, with a better quality of life” – and is planning a holiday to Spain.
- A man with cerebral palsy missed out on evening activities due to having to wait in to have a suppository administered by a district nurse. This impacted his mental and physical health, and he ended up in hospital. A review by the STOMP team saw his suppositories replaced with tablets, freeing up his evenings for activities.
- Medication was reviewed at a nursing home, due to nighttime sedation being given out in the early evening – causing people to miss out on activities. This has now been changed.
- A medication review has given new confidence, and led to new skill building, for one lady – who has now become an advocate for people with a learning disability and represents TEWV at conferences as an expert by experience.
One pharmacist who has worked with the STOMP team over the past year is now a convert to the project’s aims – despite being initially wary of the process.
“I would say I was reluctant to take people off medications who were stable before this,” they said. “However, with input from Sue and some further reading, I now understand this to be a very valuable process.”
Finalist for national award
Such is the success of the STOMP project that it has won a regional Healthwatch Star Award and is now in the finals of the National Learning Disability and Autism Awards.
“STOMP is not just about medication; it’s about improving quality of life for people. We have seen many changes for the better over the past year,” said Sue.
“This is such an amazing, rewarding project, and it is very humbling to have been nominated for a national award. We are here to make a difference for people.”
Life-changing: Anne Marie
Teesside woman Anne Marie finally feels she can “be me again” after taking part in the STOMP project.
The 35-year-old underwent a medication review as part of a pilot in North Stockton several months ago and is now feeling brighter and much more confident.
“I’m very surprised by how different it has made me feel. When I wake up, I feel like me again. I feel much more alive now,” she said.
Anne Marie spent a “couple of years” on strong medication, which she describes as “making life dull and boring”. Now that she is taking a lower dose, life is changing for the better.
Looking forward to brighter future
“I definitely feel more confident now,” she said. “I can do more stuff, like exercise outside and go for little walks. I can just be me for the first time in years.
“I really can feel the changes since the dose was lowered. I feel happier, I can walk into the world and can look forward to my future. I’d 100% recommend STOMP to other people.
“It has made such a difference to me, and I hope it will help others. Life seemed dull and boring before the medication changes, now the world has become bright again.”
- Take a look here to see how STOMP has helped change Anne Marie’s life for the better: Anne Marie and her STOMP story
