From Mr C. Curtis, MRPharmS
SIR,-May I respond to the letter from Messrs Armstrong and Knowles (PJ, April 15, p590) regarding the need for action regarding supply of patient packs for hospital discharge prescriptions. I have been in negotiation for the past 12 months with the five primary care groups that refer the vast majority of patients to Queen's hospital. They have all agreed to pay the trust the additional costs for us to supply 28 days' treatment. This will enable us to supply a large amount of our medicines in patient packs. The measure was implemented on April 1 and we will invoice the PCGs monthly for the medicines supplied. Due to our integrated hospital IT system we can identify the additional medicines supplied at PCG and individual practice levels.
I would urge colleagues to work with their PCGs to resolve this problem, and not wait for solutions from the Department of Health.
Chris Curtis
Head of Pharmaceutical Services, Burton Hospitals NHS Trust