Date
14 April 2026Location
Online via WebEx 13.00 - 14.00About the event
An introduction to the biological processes that govern sleep, followed by a facilitated case-based discussion about the complexities of managing problematic polypharmacy and deprescribing in patients prescribed medicines for insomnia.
This is a follow on from the polypharmacy webinar series, which lays the foundations of some of the deprescribing tools available and features a generalist case study.
Why it’s important
The National Overprescribing review highlighted that 10% of medicines prescribed in primary care may be inappropriate and those taking 10 or more medicines are 300 times more likely to have a drug related hospital admission, highlighting the importance of deprescribing.
In the UK around 38% of adults report insomnia symptoms and insomnia is associated with a variety of physical and mental health problems. Chronic insomnia is a societal burden, costing up to £34billion annually in productivity loss in the workplace. Effective management, including non-pharmacological interventions, is important for improving individual wellbeing and overall population health.
Structured medication reviews (SMRs) improve medication adherence, reduce unnecessary prescriptions, and optimise patient outcomes. By reviewing patient experience, symptoms, medication use, healthcare professionals can minimise risk of harm, limit side effects, and prevent poor health outcomes. This approach ensures that treatments remain appropriate and effective for better management and enhanced quality of life.
What will be covered
- An introduction to the biological processes that govern sleep
- Insight into a person-centred and holistic approach to managing insomnia, including non-pharmacological interventions
- Case-based discussion about undertaking an SMR, including deprescribing, in a patient with polypharmacy with a focus on insomnia
Speakers
Speakers from SPS and external organisations will facilitate this event
Non-SPS speakers
Dr Rania Ward
Principal Pharmacist – Sleep Medicine, Queen Victoria NHS Foundation Trust
SPS speakers
Registration
You can now register for this event. Once registered you will receive confirmation and a link for your diary.
Note: Our webinars are provided for colleagues providing NHS services so please register with your NHS or work-based email address. If you don’t provide NHS services or are a charity, please contact us to clarify your interest in this webinar.
Check your access before the event
Check that you are able to access WebEx prior to the event.
We recommend installing the Cisco WebEx app, or, alternatively, accessing the meeting via Google Chrome. If you are still having difficulty, you may need to contact your IT department to assist you in opening the application (you’ll only have to do this once).
Joining on the day
Listen through your computer or mobile phone.
The webinar will start promptly at 13:00 but please join at least 5 minutes earlier so you don’t miss important information.
Dial in
If you experience trouble accessing the meeting from your computer, you can always dial in and listen through your phone. Once registered, please see your event invitation or contact the event admin (details below) for further information.
Resources
The event will be recorded and this will be available on the SPS website a few days later. Slides may not routinely be used in these webinars. If they are, they will be available after the event.
Previous webinars
You can view our past polypharmacy webinars here.
Contact us
Please contact the admin team if you have any questions.