How hospital pharmacists can refer patients to their community colleagues

摘要

ENSURING that patients receive support with managing their medicines after leaving hospital is the focus of a scheme selected as a finalist at the 2013 Pharmaceutical Care Awards last month. The Royal Derby Hospital team, represented at the awards ceremony by Lisa Burton, discharge hub project manager, and Clive Newman, deputy chief pharmacist, facilitated post-discharge support for patients at risk of medicines-related problems. The hospital pharmacy referred these patients directly to community pharmacies for targeted medicines use reviews (tMURs). Staff on all adult wards at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were able to flag potential patients to pharmacy staff, but the campaign specifically encouraged the referral of patients from cardiology, respiratory and elderly medical wards because it was believed that these would generate the most candidates.