Quality Use of Medicines

Promoting the quality use of medicines is a key role of pharmacy staff in NCAHS hospitals.

You may frequently find a hospital pharmacist visiting patients in the wards, and reviewing their medications. Their aims include:

Improved patient outcomes
Reduced occurrence of adverse drug events
Reduced drug expenditure
Reduced length of stay

Drug information, to promote the quality use of medicines, is provided for hospital staff during pharmacy opening hours. Pharmacists may also provide specific information, either verbal or written, to patients regarding their medicines.

If you are being admitted to hospital, ask your family doctor or community pharmacist to update the list of medicines you are taking. Be sure to include all your medicines, including vitamins and minerals, over the counter medicines, any natural or herbal medicines you are taking, including any bought from supermarkets or health food shops, and any medicines used on the skin, or in your eyes or ears, or taken by any other form. Please make sure you bring this list with you when you come into hospital, and you show it to the hospital doctor or nurse caring for you.

Ask your doctor or nurse if any medicines are being changed before you go home from hospital.