If you broke me open like a stick of rock, you would find the words “patient” around my core.  I have worked within the NHS as a clinical pharmacist specialising in holistic care for thirty years, including fifteen years as a pharmacist independent prescriber (medical admissions & diabetic/ anticoagulant/polypharmacy clinics) and nine as a consultant pharmacist in medicine & medication safety in hospitals. I worked as head of medication & medical devices safety at NHS England in 2014/15 and have taught & researched prescribing and medication optimisation / safety for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists for eighteen years. I also still hold an honorary clinical lecturer appointment at the University of Manchester Pharmacy School, with more than forty publications.  

My enthusiasm, positivity, and motivation to continually improve patient care through teamwork, systems change and understanding the bigger healthcare picture has defined my career. I currently lead a medicines optimisation team across a large urban Primary Care Network (PCN) in Bournemouth and am driven by the need to protect all patients from the biggest medication safety problem of all – problematic polypharmacy in an ageing population with multi-morbidity. 

Finally, I have a national and international reputation as an engaging presenter and clinical leader who always offers a different way of thinking and have TV, radio, podcast, social and print media, experience about medication safety / optimisation

Steve Williams

Owner of One less pill ltd