Beyond Pills: Tackling Polypharmacy in an Ageing Population

18 Jun 2026
Level 5 - Mountbatten Room

Bringing together experts across healthcare, the panel will examine safer prescribing, deprescribing and whole-person approaches that prioritise reducing medication-related harm and enhancing function, independence and wellbeing. The discussion will highlight practical strategies for clinicians treating older people, including pragmatic prescribing and non-pharmaceutical options together with effective and compassionate care.

Chairperson
Simon Opher MP
Simon Opher MP, Chair of the Beyond Pills All-Party Parliamentary Group, GP for 30 years and Labour MP for Stroud, UK
Speakers
Lucy Pollock
Lucy Pollock, Geriatrician and Best-selling Author, UK
Hussain Al-Zubaidi
Hussain Al-Zubaidi, Lifestyle GP, TV Doctor, Public Speaker, Health Coach, Personal Trainer and Triathlete, UK
Bogdan Chiva Giurca
Bogdan Chiva Giurca, Clinical and Global Director, National Academy for Social Prescribing and Director, World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Social Prescribing & Council Member, The College of Medicine, UK
Deborah Swinglehurst
Deborah Swinglehurst, Professor of Primary Care, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, UK
Clare Howard
Clare Howard, Pharmacist & Clinical Lead for Medicines Optimisation at Health Innovation Wessex - Championing Better & Safer Care for Older People Taking Multiple Medicines, UK