A review of prescription drugs has been carried out by doctors in Darlington.
They have worked with primary health care officials to investigate whether patients, particularly the elderly, are on the most effective medication.
The review also considered the cost-effectiveness of the current prescription system.
Darlington Primary Care Trust has appointed a pharmaceutical advisor who will be working with the town's GPs to try to improve the system.
The trust aims to achieve government targets on prescribing, including reducing the number of antibiotics prescribed and ensuring that anyone over 75 and on more than four medications undergoes an annual review.
Director of primary care, Carole Harder, said: "All the practices in the town have shown a marked improvement in the quality of prescribing, as a result of GP and nurse commitment and hard work."
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