NHS Direct has been working with the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) on a medication safety project which seeks to identify and resolve medicine related problems experienced by patients who are sent home from hospital. The aim of the project is to reduce re-admissions by ensuring patients receive appropriate information about the medication they have been prescribed.
Evidence shows that pharmacist input and follow-up telephone calls reduce medication-related problems.
Pharmacists and ward staff will work together to ensure that patients and carers understand what each medicine is for. They also check if the patient knows how to take the medication and are aware of any potential side effects. Around 300 patients at risk of medication-related problems will be contacted by telephone by NHS Direct shortly after discharge to help identify and resolve such problems.
The medication safety project is one of five projects currently underway with CLAHRC whose aim is to put research evidence into practice to speed up improvements to patient care by bringing together patients, carers, healthcare staff and researchers.
