Pharmacists will be sent to carry out checks on care homes amid fears a generation of pensioners is being subjected to the chemical cosh.

Health officials say that up to four in 10 hospital admissions by elderly residents could be avoided if they were given the right care, without over-use of medication.

Around 400,000 people live in nursing and residential homes in England - taking an average of seven types of medication daily.

Health chiefs are concerned that vulnerable people are being left for years on a cocktail of such drugs, leaving them heavily sedated or exposed to dangerous side-effects. They fear over-medication is risking lives and fuelling hospital admissions among frail pensioners.

Between them, care home residents spend around 2 million days in hospital annually, and account for around 250,000 emergency hospital admissions.

NHS England will today announce that thousands of pharmacists and pharmacy technician will be sent into care homes to carry out checks on residents, reviewing their medicines.

The measures aim to improve the quality of life, cut hospital stays and reduce over-medication.

Professor Alistair Burns, national clinical director for dementia and older people’s mental health at NHS England, said: “Older people deserve the best possible support and with many care home residents living with complex conditions, bringing in extra expert health advice will mean the NHS can reduce avoidable drug use, improve care and free up vital funding for better treatment.