News summary

Pharmacists appointed to guide NHS Direct and walk-in centres

Two pharmacists have been appointed to help the Department of Health teams responsible for National Health Service walk-in centres and NHS Direct.

The two, Anne Joshua and Hazel Rattenbury, share a background in medicines information, education and training, and project management in both primary and secondary health care. Both also have recent experience in local training for NHS Direct and walk-in centres.

Based at the South Thames regional medicines information centre at Guy’s Hospital, London, and the regional medicines information centre at Leeds General Infirmary, Mrs Joshua and Miss Rattenbury will share a post which has been established for 12 months to bring together various pharmacy and nursing advisory groups with an interest in medicines and the delivery of pharmaceutical services. They will work with the pharmacy support network for NHS Direct and NHS walk-in centres that has provided the focus for pharmacy support to date.

Their priorities will include

• Developing the NHS clinical assessment system
• Training and support for nurses at NHS Direct sites and walk-in centres
• Developing support and advice on patient group directions for walk-in centres
• Developing medicines information support to NHS Direct and walk-in centres
• Collaboration with the NHS Direct fourth disposition project to community pharmacists

They can be contacted through the Guy’s medicines information centre on 020 7955 4892 or by e-mail at anne.joshua@btinternet.com and hazelrattenbury@hotmail.com.

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