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Clinical Ward Services
A clinical pharmacist is assigned to each clinical speciality in the hospital. Pharmacy involvement at ward level is aimed at promoting safe, effective and economical use of drugs. Activities include a prescription monitoring service, drug safety and adverse events reporting, origin of unusual medicines and the provision of specialist counselling on drug therapy.
Selected wards are provided with a Near Patient Clinical Pharmacy Service. This service is provided by a designated pharmacist and technician and will co-ordinate all aspects of the pharmacy service for the wards they cover. During normal pharmacy hours it is expected that no inpatient drug chart will need to leave the ward area and that all new patients will have a drug history taken and be counselled and educated about their medication as appropriate.
The clinical pharmacists provide valuable information on drug usage to the medical, nursing and para-medical staff. They also perform a valuable liaison role on behalf of patients going home, ensuring that no problems arise with supply of medication, thus no interruption of treatment occurs - seamless care.
Regular group sessions of drug therapy for the cardiac rehabilitation group and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/asthma patients take place, with a chance for patients to understand why their drugs have been prescribed and potential side effects. These sessions give the patient an opportunity to ask questions.
In addition pharmacists provide advice on a number of drugs which require therapeutic monitoring. These drugs include Digoxin, Theophylline, Anticonvulsants and Gentamicin.
