Question that many community pharmacists cant answer

[Pharmguru]

I am patient going to rowlands for many years. I have now decided after 5 years or so to go to lloyds. My drug history of all the drugs I have had in the past will obviously be on the computer system at rowlands. Now I have been prescribed a new drug so lloyds pharmacist will check it and give it to me but how is that safe when you don't even know what other meds I was in the past etc.

My point is how do community pharmacists sort out a patient safely with their script when you don't know what else I have been on or am I going to a different pharmacy.

A nice, clear answer would be good as many people stumble on this question.

[Pharmanaut]

I am patient going to rowlands for many years. I have now decided after 5 years or so to go to lloyds. My drug history of all the drugs I have had in the past will obviously be on the computer system at rowlands. Now I have been prescribed a new drug so lloyds pharmacist will check it and give it to me but how is that safe when you don't even know what other meds I was in the past etc.

My point is how do community pharmacists sort out a patient safely with their script when you don't know what else I have been on or am I going to a different pharmacy.

A nice, clear answer would be good as many people stumble on this question.

You would expect this to be solved by computerisation in the 21st century, but it isn't.
As pharmacists this is something that we would like; it has been coming in the summary care record, but like all government initiatives it does not happen to commercial timescales.

You can ask your previous pharmacy for a printout of you patient history and ask your new pharmacy to look at it.
You can pass on the medication list that is printed out on the right hand side of your prescription to your new pharmacy, writing on it any drug reactions or allergies as well as any self-medication that you use.
That way the new pharmacy can add a snapsnot of your medication to their computer system.
If you want to disclose some of your medical conditions, the pharmacy can add those as well.
Note that we don't keep detailed history or full details of conditions with test results (other than warfarin).

At the moment you have to help us to help you.
Hope this helps you to navigate the maze of contradictions that is the NHS.

[johnep]

Well answered. every pt is entitled to their complete (as far as records go) drug history. Ask the previous pharmacy for a print out , (going on holiday extended stay abroad etc). Mark up those you have had a problem with and show to your new pharmacy. They should give you an interview (New Medicine Service) if wanted.
johnep

[Asterix]

If someone was on metformin and kept getting repeats from you, how do you know he doesn't have kidney problems.

[crit care]

we aren't mind readers, you do need to tell us such information, and yes we need to be asking such questions, but if you don't say then we won't know without spending the next half hour sorting it out and letting mr jones in the queue behind you wait even longer for his script

asterix- you don't, unless you hunt otu blood results from the hospital, but in all fairness you won't have time to do that. if you were concerned then maybe get gp to do blood test.

not all of us go to work with crystal balls!

[shan]

As it is the computer system will point that you are a new patient. Depending on the prescrption presented I would enquire if you take any other medicines that might be important to know in connection with the new drug in question. Otherwise, most of it is what pharmanut mentioned.

[Pharmguru]

a patient presents with a rx for an oral contraceptive. However, she got rifampicin from another chemist a few days back. You obviously don't know this, don't counsel her on extra precautions and then she has the baby. Are you liable to get sued??


Shan, I find that although it might come up as new patient on the system, your technicians won't ever mention this to you!!

[DavidS]

A nice, clear answer would be good as many people stumble on this question.

Along with rights go responsibilities.

It is your right to take your prescription where you choose. It is your responsibility to ensure we are given any information that you want advice on.

It is worth saying that in the patient info leaflets for rifampicin and OCs warnings about mixing them are writ large. I am aware that many taking rifampicin will not be familiar with English as used in PILs however.

[hibernia]

Along with rights go responsibilities.

It is your right to take your prescription where you choose. It is your responsibility to ensure we are given any information that you want advice on.

What about the responsibility of the prescriber?
They are ones who write the prescription and have access to all the information we don't. Often we don't even see the patient who uses a messenger to collect their prescription and would be rightly annoyed if we told their workmate about their medication or medical condition.

[bobbin]

I am patient going to rowlands for many years. I have now decided after 5 years or so to go to lloyds. My drug history of all the drugs I have had in the past will obviously be on the computer system at rowlands. Now I have been prescribed a new drug so lloyds pharmacist will check it and give it to me but how is that safe when you don't even know what other meds I was in the past etc.

My point is how do community pharmacists sort out a patient safely with their script when you don't know what else I have been on or am I going to a different pharmacy.

A nice, clear answer would be good as many people stumble on this question.

After a short while at Lloyds you may find yourself back at Rowlands....

...... thus avoiding the problem