Our integrated pharmacy team work closely with the GPs, Nurses and Administrative Team to provide advice and support on a range of medicine related issues.
The remit of the pharmacy team includes the following –
- Discharge and Outpatient Clinic Letters – The pharmacy team receive copies of all letters recieved by the practice that mention a change or addition to the patients medication. The pharmacy team update the patient records with the adjustments and may contact the patient to make sure that they fully understand the changes to their medication.
- Chronic Medication Service (CMS) – A CMS prescription is used to simplify the way patients get medication for long term conditions. Patients on long term medication which is stable and doesn’t need adjustment are having their prescriptions changed to a CMS prescription. This means that rather than having to order a prescription every 2 months, medication will be available to collect from the chemist when patient needs it. The Pharmacy Team help set up new CMS prescriptions for patients who are suitable for the service and also oversee the annual reauthorisations and make any ad-hoc changes to prescriptions on behalf of the GPs. More information on CMS can be found here – CMS Information
- Updating New Patient Records – When new patients register with the Practice, the Pharmacy Team ensure that all of the patients current medications are added accurately to the records to ensure that there is no delay in medications being available for the patient to order.
- Finding or Suggesting Alternative Medication when out of Stock or Unavailable – On occasion, certain medications are unavailable for reasons out with the control of the practice. Our Pharmacy Team can help suggest alterative medications for the GPs to prescribe.
- Carrying Cost Saving Changes/Improving Prescribing – It is important for the NHS to be as efficient as possible. The Pharmacy Team carry out cost saving exercises recommended by NHS Lothian to ensure that patients are prescribed the most cost efficient medications without reducing the effectiveness.
- Medication reviews – The Pharmacy Team carry out medication reviews to ensure the patient is on the optimum medications and may inactivate older medications the patient is no longer ordering or using.