Pharmacy services

About the service

We have a team of staff working within an inhouse pharmacy based at St Marys' Hospital issuing stock and dispensing individual patient supplies for inpatient wards in the Portsmouth area within our Trust.

What we do

The team consists of Pharmacists ,  Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants, Administrators and a number of other specialised roles,  who work with clinical staff to provide medicines related advice, both on inpatient wards and to a variety of other teams and services. The team disseminate medicines safety related alerts and guidance ensuring safe high quality prescribing practice within the trust.

We have an inhouse pharmacy based at St Mary's Hospital who supply stock and individual patient supplies within our Trust.

The team works closely with University Hospitals Southampton Foundation trust and Portsmouth Hospitals Trust ensuring the efficient supply of medication to our units. We also liaise closely with colleagues in the local ICB and other local or similar NHS Trusts, as well as community pharmacies, ensuring smooth transfer and discharge of patients.

Our prescribing choices are guided by NICE recommendations and other national guidance, as well as local prescribing formularies and guidance.

The trust has a comprehensive set of PGDs which are produced in liaison with the Medicines Management Team and used by nursing and therapy staff with extended roles. The team also provides support for the Non-Medical Prescribers within the trust and provides medicines training to all clinical staff.

Inpatient units receive a patient focussed pharmacy service, with patients being assessed for their ability to manage their medicines at home where applicable. Where appropriate, adjustments are made to enable patients to be as independent as possible with their treatment. Patients are encouraged to use the medication and choice website, particularly on the mental health units.

Accessing the service

We are a Medicines Management Team and work alongside other healthcare Professionals to assist Inpatients who are having difficulty managing their medicines, answer clinical queries from staff working within our Trust or one of our partner agencies, face to face, by phone or by email.