Oncology prescribing clinic launched
A new oncology clinic that aims to facilitate supplementary prescribing by pharmacists is already showing benefit to patients. According to pharmacist
prescriber, Carl Booth, involved in setting up the clinic at Airedale
General Hospital, nursing staff have reported that patients who have
attended the clinic appear to be more knowledgeable about their treatment
than previously was the case.
So far 35 patients have attended the clinic since its opening two months
ago. Mr Booth said that now that the clinic is up and running at full
speed, up to five new patients are expected to be seen each week. He
commented: “The aim of our clinic is to advise patients on the
full range of benefits and adverse effects of chemotherapy, and to thereby
facilitate a concordant decision to undertake treatment.” As a
supplementary prescriber, his role is to take a full drug history and
obtain a verbal agreement from patients for a supplementary prescribing
relationship. So far, all the patients who have attended the clinic have
agreed to such an arrangement, he adds.
Explaining how the clinic operates, he said that patients attend the
clinic following a visit to a medical oncologist, who has offered them
treatment with chemotherapy. At the clinic, they are invited to see Mr
Booth, an oncology staff grade doctor and a senior oncology nurse, and
are consented to chemotherapy. In addition, a clinical management plan
is drawn up and agreed by the patient, doctor and Mr Booth. “This
allows me to prescribe subsequent cycles of chemotherapy, and, where
required, additional medication such as anti-emetics and mouthwashes,” he
said.
Mr Booth plans to evaluate the service either later this year or early
next year, when the number of patients who have attended the clinic reaches
80 to 100.
Mr Booth is a senior clinical pharmacist, Airedale General Hospital and
joint non-medical prescribing lead at Airedale NHS Trust.
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Hospital Pharmacist