By S. Woolfrey (Wansbeck General hospital, Ashington, Northumberland) and M. Asghar (Northumberland Health Authority, Northumberland)
A pan-pharmacy (primary and secondary care) forum was formed to discuss clinical governance issues. The main objectives are to disseminate best practice, promote reflective practice and to provide a source of support, in order to help the profession evaluate how it works in its respective area and across the interface. There are formal links to the trust and health authority clinical governance groups. A significant event reporting form has been designed.
By E. Kelly (Healthfield House, Ayr, Ayrshire), K. Liddell, F. Uriarte (Ailsa hospital, Ayr) and D. Lamprell (Sandgate pharmacy, Ayr)
In this initiative a community pharmacy clozapine supply scheme was introduced. It aimed to overcome the difficulties that patients who had been prescribed clozapine were having collecting their supplies from a hospital pharmacy. Clozapine supplies were dispensed by the hospital pharmacy and forwarded to a community pharmacy chosen by the patient. Full regard was paid to the clozapine patient monitoring service requirements. Convenience for patients taking clozapine and compliance has improved, without compromising safety. The service is operating successfully, according to a recent audit of community pharmacists' views. An audit of patients' views is planned at 12 months. Eighteen patients are involved in the scheme, which is to be extended.
By W. Humphris (Horton hospital, Banbury, Oxfordshire)
The aim of this project was to improve communication across the primary/
secondary care interface. Patients admitted to hospital were sequentially recruited to a test or control group. Control patients were given the normal pharmacy service. Test patients underwent a pharmaceutical assessment by the project pharmacist. For test patients, a hospital pharmacy-generated patient profile was sent to the general practitioner and community pharmacist when a patient was discharged. Its effects on medicine management were evaluated. Test and control groups were followed up by home visits at one and six weeks following discharge.
Medication related problems were identified earlier for test patients and queries were reduced when discharge prescriptions were dispensed. Patient management of their drugs was improved.
By H. Hunter (Geraldton Regional hospital, Geraldton, Western Australia)
This initiative provided a continuity of pharmaceutical care for patients on discharge from hospital. Patients are referred to the pharmacy by nursing staff when they are to be discharged. The pharmacist checks that the discharge medications are correct and produces a computer generated medication profile, copies of which are given to patients, family, carers, nursing homes, district hospitals, district nurses, doctors, community pharmacies and other institutions and people where appropriate, and put in the patient's medical records. Community pharmacists and district hospitals are contacted to ensure they have supplies of an unusual drug and are informed of any drug changes. In 51 per cent of the medication profiles processed a potential problem was averted.
By G. Newton, T. Health and A. Dinely (Mossley Hill Hospital, Liverpool)
The "Well Informed" initiative is a series of three guides covering: mental health services (volume 1), medication (volume 2) and mental health problems (volume 3). It aims to address information needs and enable people to be involved in decisions about their treatment so as to improve mental health outcomes. Service users were involved in the development of the guides. The core project team comprised two user representatives, one pharmacist, two mental health nurses and a graphic designer. Pharmacy technicians were involved in the drafting of the documents.
This initiative has improved patient understanding of their mental illness and medication within the context of the mental health service provision. Questionnaires have been used to measure outcomes. The initiative has prompted the development of a structured training programme on depot antipsychotic management. The programme is run by pharmacists, as part of a multidisiplinary team, within the North Mersey community NHS trust.
Care Awards: Other hospital care entries