The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7188 p311-320
9 March 2002

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National service framework for coronary heart disease (more)

Pharmacist-led CHD clinic keeps going

A pharmacist-led coronary heart disease (CHD) clinic is to become a permanent part of a CHD out patients programme at South Durham Health Care Trust.

Dr Labib Tadros, clinical specialist pharmacist, Darlington Memorial Hospital, said that a pilot study, involving 100 patients referred to the clinic after suffering an acute myocardial infarction, had shown that pharmacists can perform effective drug-regimen reviews, assist in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes and decrease risk associated with drug therapy.

The clinic protocol allowed Dr Tadros to initiate antiplatelet therapy, lipid-lowering drugs and nitrates, and to modify doses of beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium antagonists and diuretics, following repeated blood pressure monitoring. He said that the interventions improved prescribing in accordance with the National Service Framework for CHD. "All patients became normotensive and their biochemical blood results met target guidelines," he added.

Specific referral criteria for the clinic are now being developed.