Tuesday 11 March 2025
A pioneering Durham and Teesside project to stop the over-medication of people with a learning disability or autism is being captured on camera to help others nationwide.
Work on filming the amazing benefits of the award-winning STOMP scheme – which aims to challenge “inappropriate or over-prescribing” of antipsychotic medicine – is now underway.
The film, which has been co-created by involvement members, Trust staff, primary care pharmacists and Skills for People, will be made available across the NHS once completed.
“STOMP is absolutely amazing on so many levels,” said advanced nurse Sue Sargeant, who has helped pioneer the project with primary care liaison nurse Claire Donnelly.
“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. We hope the film will raise awareness of this.”
Pioneering approach
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 health issues, sedation and even premature death – so STOMP works with pharmacists to review and reduce medication, when safe to do so.
“We’ve really embraced STOMP and taken quite a pioneering approach,” said Claire, who works with Sue in Durham Tees Valley adults with learning disabilities physical health team.
“This is a fully co-created project, with patient voice at the heart of it. It’s all about improving quality of life, and people are often surprised at how much better they feel.”
Project is changing lives
Sue and Claire have joined with patients, local pharmacists, primary care and Skills for People, a North East group which supports people with disabilities, to co-create the new film.
Once finished, the video will include information on the importance of medicine reviews, as well as a step-by-step guide on what to expect while taking part in the project.
Teesside involvement member Ann Marie, who finally feels she can “be me again” after taking part in STOMP, has taken a leading role in the film – both on and off camera.
“I wanted to help people with the same disability as me, to empower them. STOMP has made such a difference to me, and I hope this film will help others,” she said.
“Life seemed dull and boring before my medication changes, now the world has become bright again. I feel happier, I can walk into the world and can look forward to my future.”
Award-winning support
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.
Pharmacist Keavney Houghton, of Willington Surgery in County Durham, appears in the new film and said: “We are aiming for a gold standard in medicine reviews.
“I’m hoping that the film will help spread the message about STOMP, and the benefits a medicine review can bring. This is a really amazing project to be involved in.”
STOMP has won several awards since its launch and has just been shortlisted for the British Nursing Journal Awards in the Learning Disability Nurse of the Year category.
“This is not just about medication; it’s about improving the quality of life for people. We have seen many changes for the better over the past year,” said Sue.
