 PCT policies
Attended Clinical Governance meeting run by local PCT.
Topics were:
1) Chlamydia testing. we were asked to give out cards to as many under 25s as possible. I asked about giving when selling condoms and the speaker said that is what they wanted. I then pointed out that these would be sold away from pharmacy area and would need cooperation of store manager. July is chlamydia awareness month in Cambridgeshire.
2)Anticoagulation. Local nurses gave talk on need to check as per NPSA guide. Have been one or two pts who have never had INR tested after leaving hospital. Then several points re interactions. I was too afraid to show my ignorance re drugs which decrease effect of warfarin other than vit K. Are there any?
3) High dose steroid inhalers. This is set at 800mcgs/day. We were asked to check at MURs.
4) Prescription Switching campaign. This is cost reduction basically. I asked re prescribing of generic cfc free b/a steroids and fact that some PMRs came up with Qvar even for children. PCT said Drs should prescribe steroid inhalers by brand . This is actually in BNF. However, as I am an OOH locum, very difficult to contact prescriber.
I found it a very good evening but the speakers outnumbered the attendees as usual. Just what is it with pharmacists that they only want to work the hours and consider pharmacy as just a job and not a career or vocation.
I could never do something I did not enjoy enough to put as much into it as possible. When in export I often worked very odd hours and have never had a 9-5 mentality which is so common these days.
Pharmacy and scientific matters in general have been a lifelong interest.
johnep
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