Communication between pharmacists and anaesthetists to improve
Action plans to improve communication between pharmacists and anaesthetists were discussed at a joint meeting of the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, held in London recently.
Members of the two organisations agreed that there would be significant
benefits from having pharmacists linked to theatres directorates to contribute
to discussions on drugs. “Pharmacists should be closely involved
with anaesthetists in theatres and intensive care units as these areas
have the highest use of drugs in hospital,” said Mark Tomlin, critical
care directorate pharmacist at Southampton University Hospitals NHS trust.
The action plan for the next few months now includes writing articles
demonstrating the clinical and economic benefits to each group of working
closer together and organising a seminar addressing the issue of drug
safety and drug errors.
The group also identified other areas in which pharmacists and anaesthetists
would benefit from working closer together including drug calculations
and dilutions, issues around pain management and Controlled Drugs, drug
safety and drug errors, using drugs off-licence and cost-effective use
of anaesthetic agents.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the surgery and critical
care groups of the UKCPA and the AAGBI.
The meeting was sponsored by an unconditional educational grant from
Abbott Laboratories. |
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