IJPP 2003, 11: 89-95
© 2003 Int J Pharm Pract
DOI 10.1211/002235702801
ISSN 0961-7671


Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath
Rachel J. Hobson, teacher-practitioner pharmacist
Graham J. Sewell, professor of clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice

Correspondence:
Mrs Hobson, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, England BA2 7AY
E-mail prxrjh@bath.ac.uk

Original Papers

A national survey of pharmacist transcribing of discharge prescriptions

Rachel J. Hobson and Graham J. Sewell

Abstract
Objectives — To provide quantitative data on pharmacist discharge prescription transcription service (PDPTS) provision in UK hospitals.

Method — Postal questionnaire survey of clinical pharmacy managers.

Setting — Selection criteria included one hospital in each acute trust in the UK.

Key findings — The response rate was 66% (135/206). In mid-2001, a PDPTS was provided by 49 hospital pharmacy departments (36%). PDPTS was the most common prescribing activity undertaken by pharmacists, followed by a prescription amendment policy (29%), prescribing in pre-admission clinics (18%) and re-writing drug charts (15%). 59 departments (44%) did not undertake any prescribing activity.

Of the 86 non-transcribing hospitals, 69% undertook no prescribing activity (range= 0 to 3 prescribing activities). Transcribing hospitals offered a wider range of prescribing activities (range= 1 to 8 prescribing activities). A weak relationship was found between the number of pharmacists employed per hospital and the number of prescribing activities undertaken (correlation coefficient= 0.208, P= 0.018). The most frequently used PDPTS model (78%) involved pharmacists transcribing the discharge prescriptions for their own wards. The number of pharmacists transcribing discharge prescriptions per hospital ranged from 1 to 89 (mean=8, mode=2, median= 5, 25% percentile= 2, 75% percentile=10). The majority of pharmacists (52%) reported writing less than five prescriptions per day; 35% were writing 5-10 prescriptions per day. The most common training requirement for pharmacists to start transcribing was an in-house training programme (55%). The majority of departments (80%) did not re-assess the ability of their pharmacists to transcribe.

Conclusion — Hospital pharmacy departments in the UK have started to take on prescribing roles, especially transcribing discharge prescriptions. However, it would appear that the majority of the PDPTS schemes are not being run extensively throughout the hospitals. It is of concern that the principles of clinical governance are not being met in terms of training and re-assessment of the pharmacists who are undertaking this service. The reasons why the service has developed in some hospitals and not others are not known. In order to extend this service, funding, resources and skill-mix maximisation need to be considered. This will enable patients to gain the maximum benefit from this service development.