When patients asked about medicines
Pharmacists and other health care professionals were involved in a variety of activities last week (12–18 October) marking Ask About Medicines Week. A number of events to publicise the week were also held.
North East Derbyshire Primary Care Trust ran stands on local market days
in its area with a campaign based on the question “What is the
most expensive medicine?”. Peta Dodsworth, of the PCT, told The
Journal that the campaign was supported by posters in GP surgeries and
pharmacies and local radio advertising. The answer — “The
one you do not take” — will be the subject of a follow-up
campaign.
Kingston PCT held medicines awareness days for residents at five nursing
homes. Pharmacists discussed medicines while a district nurse took blood
pressure measurements. A GP was also interviewed by a local radio station.
National Co-operative Chemists ran an asthma awareness and advice campaign
through its 300 pharmacies as part of the week.
Most of the pharmacy teams that The Journal has spoken to report that
their activities were well received by the public and that they were
kept busy answering questions and giving out information during the sessions
they ran. Several plan follow-up campaigns to run before Christmas.
North
Manchester PCT medicines management team (left to right) Jane Brown,
Lynda Gilligan and Lisa Prince in their local branch of Asda |
Professor Al Aynsley-Green, national clinical director for children,
talks to long-term patient Megan Smith during a visit to Chelsea
and Westminster Hospital |
Celebrity spokeswoman Lynn Faulds Woods (left) asks pharmacist Dijana
Spahovic about medicines during a visit to Baywood Pharmacy, north
London |
Pharmacist Ruth Goldstein talks to shoppers at the Ankerside Centre,
Tamworth, as part of activities organised by Burntwood, Litchfield
and Tamworth PCT |
Pharmacist Hetar Kushwaha (right) gives advice to outpatient Ann
Cross at an Ask About Medicines Week stand at Ealing Hospital, London |
Caroline Morgan, dispensary manager at Llandough Hospital, Cardiff,
shows a robotic dispensing system and handheld computer to Welsh
Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan |
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