The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7165 p347-351
15 September 2001

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Enteral feeds

Safeguards for home care patients

From Mr N. S. Chilton, MRPharmS

Reading the continuing education article about enteral feeds (PDF *, 60K) by Paula Murphy (PJ, 1 September, p297), I agree that home care companies have an increasing role in providing enteral feeds and associated equipment to patients in their homes. However, I wonder if the author’s suggestion that the use of such services to deliver prescribed feeds “can eliminate pharmacists’ involvement in this area” could be misinterpreted.

In my experience, although the prescriptions presented to home care companies may not be seen by community pharmacy colleagues, they are none the less dispensed under the supervision of a home care pharmacist from registered pharmacy premises and in accordance with good dispensing practice. Rest assured that appropriate professional standards are in place to safeguard home care patients on a wide range of therapies, including prescribed enteral feeds.

Nick Chilton
Pharmaceutical Services Manager
Calea UK Ltd

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