Clinical Pharmacy
Polypharmacy and Deprescribing
Reducing unnecessary medicines and the harm they can cause.
What does a polypharmacy and deprescribing service do?
Reducing unnecessary medicines and the harm they can cause. BCS supports gp practices, primary care networks, gp federations across the UK from hubs in Halifax and London, covering identifying high-burden patients, deprescribing reviews, anticholinergic burden reduction.
Reviewed October 2026 by the BCS clinical services team.
What is this service?
Polypharmacy and Deprescribing from Bespoke Clinical Services: reducing unnecessary medicines and the harm they can cause. Every arrangement is built around your organisation — truly bespoke, never off-the-shelf.
What can BCS support?
- Identifying high-burden patients
- Deprescribing reviews
- Anticholinergic burden reduction
- Frailty-focused reviews
How can it be delivered?
- Remote sessions
- On-site sessions
- Part-time or full-time
- Ongoing support
- As a defined project — no permanent contract needed
Who makes clinical decisions?
BCS clinicians work within their own competence and the scope you agree. Anything outside it is escalated to your GPs or clinical lead, under your organisation's clinical governance and procedures.
How clinical governance works →How does delivery start?
We agree the workload, scope, system access, escalation routes and reporting with you, complete clinician checks and induction, then start delivery. Progress is reviewed with you regularly.
Ways to commission →Why choose BCS?
BCS is a truly bespoke clinical services partner. We support 50+ PCNs and 300+ GP practices with 150+ clinical pharmacists, delivered from two hubs in Halifax and London. Every clinician is backed by our management layer, structured training, clinical supervision and quality assurance, and activity is reported clearly through the BCS Impact Dashboard.
How is it funded?
Where the arrangement uses an eligible ARRS role, meets the Network Contract DES requirements and (for remote delivery) is intended to last at least six months, it may be supported through ARRS funding. Otherwise it can be funded from PCN, practice or commissioned budgets. Eligibility is always confirmed against the current NHS guidance — we never promise reimbursement.
Read our funding and ARRS guide →Common questions
What does a polypharmacy and deprescribing service do?
Reducing unnecessary medicines and the harm they can cause. BCS supports gp practices, primary care networks, gp federations across the UK from hubs in Halifax and London, covering identifying high-burden patients, deprescribing reviews, anticholinergic burden reduction.
Who is Polypharmacy and Deprescribing for?
It's designed for gp practices, primary care networks, gp federations, independent healthcare providers. Every arrangement is tailored to your organisation.
Can polypharmacy and deprescribing be delivered remotely?
Yes. It can be delivered remotely, on-site, or a mix of both, from our hubs in Halifax and London.
Is polypharmacy and deprescribing ARRS funded?
Where the arrangement uses an eligible ARRS role, meets the Network Contract DES requirements and (for remote delivery) is intended to last at least six months, it may be supported through ARRS funding. Otherwise it can be funded from PCN, practice or commissioned budgets. Eligibility is always confirmed against the current NHS guidance — we never promise reimbursement.
Who makes clinical decisions in polypharmacy and deprescribing?
BCS clinicians work within their own competence and the scope you agree. Anything outside it is escalated to your GPs or clinical lead, under your organisation's clinical governance and procedures.
How does polypharmacy and deprescribing start?
We agree the workload, scope, system access, escalation routes and reporting with you, complete clinician checks and induction, then start delivery. Progress is reviewed with you regularly.
Do I need a full-time contract?
No. You can commission a defined project with an agreed scope and timeline, without a permanent staffing agreement.
Request Polypharmacy and Deprescribing
Tell us a little about your organisation and we'll come back within one working day with a bespoke proposal.