Managing medicines

Medicines management is essential to your care and ensure you are able to live your best life possible. 

We have a dedicated medicines management team who provide reliable, easy to access information (for staff and patients) on medicines and ensure their safe and effective use within Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. 

We also have team of staff working within an inhouse pharmacy based at St Marys' Community Health Campus issuing stock and dispensing individual patient supplies for inpatient wards in the Portsmouth area. Find out more about the team below.

Our inhouse pharmacy based at St Mary's Community Health Campus supply stock and individual patient supplies to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust inpatient services in the local area.

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 local CCGs and community pharmacies ensuring smooth transfer and discharge of pateints.

Our prescribing choices are guided by NICE recommendations and local prescribing formularies and guidance.

Inpatient units receive a patient focussed pharmacy service, with patients being assessed for their ability to manage their medicines at home. Where appropriate, adjustments are made to enable patients to be as independent as possible with their treatment. 

Medicines information:
To help you make informed decisions about medicines, the Choice and Medication website includes information about medicines that are used in the treatment of mental health problems. This includes information about side effects and comparison of medicines used for various conditions. The NHS A-Z website provides information about common medicines used within the NHS and may also be useful. Your community pharmacist is also an expert on medicines and can help answer questions you may have about your regular medication.

Please note, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed in 2024 when Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Solent NHS Trust and some services from Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust merged to form a new organisation. You may find some resources reference our legacy organisations. New versions for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare will be available soon.

The following information is provided for healthcare professionals, particularly GPs and prescribers, to help inform decisions around the management of medicines in mental health. 

There are Advanced Mental Health Specialist Pharmacists working in the following PCNs:

  • North and Mid Hampshire:
    • Andover
    • B-connected Care
  • South East Hampshire:
    • Strawberry Health
Thumbnail Title Filename Date Posted Size
PDF file icon SH CP 58 (MM) Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine Guideline SH_CP_58_MM_Cholinesterase_Inhibitors_and_Memantine_Guideline_V6.pdf 10/08/2022 242.46 KB
PDF file icon SH CP 249 (MM) Physical Health Monitoring for Psychotropic Medication SH_CP_249_MM_Physical_Health_Monitoring_for_Psychotropic_Medication__V3.pdf 10/08/2022 245.74 KB
PDF file icon SH CP 111 (MM) Antipsychotic guidelines SH_CP_111_MM_Antipsychotic_guidelines_V9_Feb_23.pdf 10/08/2022 364.70 KB
PDF file icon SH CP 250 (MM) - Psychotropic Medications during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding SH_CP_250_MM_-_Psychotropic_Medications_during_Pregnancy__Breastfeeding_V3.pdf 10/08/2022 209.49 KB
PDF file icon SH CP 114 (MM) - Clozapine Guidelines SH_CP_114_MM_-_Clozapine_Guidelines_V6.pdf 10/08/2022 1,112.15 KB
PDF file icon SH CP 02 (MM) Managing Behaviour Problems in Patients with Dementia SH_CP_02_MM_Managing_Behaviour_Problems_in_Patients_with_Dementia_V4.pdf 06/09/2022 188.20 KB
PDF file icon SH CP 113 (MM) - Shared Care Guidelines for Prescribing Lithium SH_CP_113_MM_-_Shared_Care_Guidelines_for_Prescribing_Lithium_V6.pdf 10/08/2022 352.81 KB
PDF file icon SH CP 168 (MM) - Self-Administration of Medicines Guideline SH_CP_168_MM_-_Self-Administration_of_Medicines_Guideline_V5.pdf 26/09/2022 732.80 KB
PDF file icon SH_HR_72_Revalidation_for_Nursing_Nursing_Associates_and_Midwifery_Staff_Policy_V2.pdf SH_HR_72_Revalidation_for_Nursing_Nursing_Associates_and_Midwifery_Staff_Policy_V2.pdf 12/06/2024 184.78 KB
PDF file icon SH_CP_136_MM_Guideline_for_Treatment_of_Primary_Insomnia_V4.pdf SH_CP_136_MM_Guideline_for_Treatment_of_Primary_Insomnia_V4_July_2024.pdf 05/07/2024 398.08 KB

Queries about medicines:
If you have any questions about your medicines, please discuss them with the pharmacists who supplied them to you. If you are a patient or service user under our care, you should initially contact your health care professional, care coordinator or key worker who will be able to help you and can put you in contact with a clinical pharmacist if needed.

General enquiries:
You can contact the Medicines Management Team via: 

This route should not be used for anything that requires an urgent response.
For anything urgent please call 023 8087 4023 or 0300 123 6650.

If you have any questions, comments or complaints about the pharmacy service or concerns about controlled drug usage please contact:

Chief Pharmacist 
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Tatchbury Mount
Calmore
Southampton
SO40 2RZ

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