Emergency supplies to holiday makers?

[M Khatun]

I would like to know how other pharmacists deal with these...

[johnep]

Had to several times. Many visiting children had left all their meds on the hall table.
1) Need 5-8 different items, not sure what they are or what exactly for. Referred to OOH Dr as invariably on a Bank Holiday week end.
2) Know what I need Seretide and Ventolin inhalers and I don't (won't) pay.
3) Need just one insulin pen (Means opening box of five and remainder will just go out of date). Don't pay, of course.
4) Left my OC at home, need say Logynon. Told would cost £3. 'Disgraceful! All OCs are free'. Then stomp out threatening official complaint, walking right pass rack of condoms.
5) I am a cancer pt and urgently need supply of MST.
etc, etc.
johnep

[crit care]

i guess depends on what the item is, how long they are on holiday for. if its something they can go without for a couple of days i'd leave it....then if its something they do need- salbutamol inhaler, anti-epileptic meds, BP meds, anti-retrovirals, diabetes, parkinsons etc etc. the list could go on....then you can supply and then charge them for it, and explain why...and if they want to bring a script back you can give them a refund

[Nik]

Remember seeing one when I used to work at Lloyds, a woman came in with her friend who needed emergency supply of medication. Turned out the friend was from USA and told the pharmacist what meds she was on. We grabbed a Martindale and figured out two of them - one was a brand of olmesartan not available in UK and other was a brand of diltiazem. Consequently referred to OOH

[johnep]

You just try to get an emergency supply in the US.
Cost me $70 as had to go to local clinic. Still cheaper than hotel Dr where charge was $100 just to say hello.
johnep

[crit care]

Remember seeing one when I used to work at Lloyds, a woman came in with her friend who needed emergency supply of medication. Turned out the friend was from USA and told the pharmacist what meds she was on. We grabbed a Martindale and figured out two of them - one was a brand of olmesartan not available in UK and other was a brand of diltiazem. Consequently referred to OOH

couldn't you have supplied the diltiazem (i know BNF says to keep the brand the same, but in practice that i have been apart of, it is never always achievable) and the olmesartan rather than refer to OOH??

[M Khatun]

Generally, i myself am not happy to supply holiday makers with medicines if they just give me the name of the medicine. I dont know the dose the doctor intends, the strength etc, unless i see a prescription or a box of medicines with their name and directions or i am able to confirm this with the GP themselves against a faxed presciption. I do make exceptions if i feel confident that the medicine is used as intended and it is a genuine emergency and they are unable to obtain a prescription in reasonable time.

What about foreign holiday makers?

Generally i refer them to a walk in clinic to get a prescription.

[Nik]

couldn't you have supplied the diltiazem (i know BNF says to keep the brand the same, but in practice that i have been apart of, it is never always achievable) and the olmesartan rather than refer to OOH??

Didn't know anything other than the names of the drugs, no strength, no dose etc. This happened earlier this year when I was still working as a sat boy. Pharmacist qualified last june but had worked only a few days before that day - phoned a pharmacist friend who advised on contacting OOH. Had she known more info she might have supplied olmesartan. Not sure about the diltiazem. Perhaps there are other different strengths or formulations in the US ? (where's bobbin when you need him)

[crit care]

ah ok....at least you had names to go by, sometimes when i ask patients what tablets they take..they say..a small white one....and they look shocked when i don't know which one it is, and i'm always tempted to reply why yes i spent 4 years at uni learning the shapes and colours of ALL the tablets, thats all we as pharmacists do!

[johnep]

MEP used to say could only supply to pt who had previous script written by UK registered Dr. Have had NHS scripts with overseas addresses on them ie USA and Romania. After all the NHS is an International Health Service isn't it?
Overseas pts are supposed to be referred to a UK Dr (Naturally very easy on a Bank Holiday weekend, when Pt flying out that night!).
The Dr is then supposed to issue a private script but this seldom happens in practice.
Often had pts saying 'Oh will ask my Dr to send you a script on my return'. Obviously did not know that Drs never have a stamp to put on a letter. The riposte is to ask the pt to pay and promise to send refund when you receive the script. Amazing how many expect you to trust them, but don't trust you.
johnep