BURY health chiefs have hit out at a report on changes to the way medicines are managed around Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester Health and Social Partnership Medicines Strategy aims to “optimise” the way health professionals prescribe, medicines, oxygen and medical devices.

The latest draft plan has come in for harsh criticism from NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) primary care commissioning committee.

The GPs and officers fear it could upset people and accused it of talking down to patients rather than offering ways to help them make the best use of their medical prescriptions.

Prestwich GP and Bury CCG clinical lead Dr. Jeffrey Schryer said: “My concern is its tone, using the phrase ‘right medicine to the right person at the right time’, rather than writing it from a provider, prescriber perspective.

“It should be patient focussed. Where’s the talk about engagement with patients, it talks about what they should be taking and not about education.

“It should be talking about how to help them to help themselves.

“I think that will upset a lot of people.”

The draft report sets out a case for a borough-wide change to the way medicines are managed.

It highlights an opportunity to reduce waste, improve outcomes and establish medicines as an investment, as well as a cost, to the health and care system.

It also notes that five to eight per cent of national hospital admissions.

But Bury GP Dr. Kiran Patel said the report missed improving the experience for the patient.