Pharmacy Team

PCN Pharmacy Team

Who we are

The PCN Pharmacy Team consist of Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians who work within the GP surgeries to provide advice and support regarding medications to patients and other healthcare staff

The team work in partnership with local hospitals (Arrowe Park, Clatterbridge Hospital), and have access to hospital records and specialist teams. This bridges the gap between your GP and the care provided at hospital, reducing the risk of errors when transferring between settings. The PCN Pharmacy Team review medicines after discharge to ensure the records held by your GP are accurate and up to date.

What the Pharmacy Team support with:

· Completing a full medication review

· Reviewing all medicines are correct after discharge from hospital

· Responding to safety alerts and medicine recalls

· Assist with medication queries from other healthcare professionals

· Provide practical support to help patients take their medications

Medication reviews

For patients taking multiple medications, and those with long-term conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma), the Pharmacy Team are able to complete comprehensive medication reviews.

What happens during a medication review

· You will have an initial call with the Pharmacy Technician before a clinical review with the Pharmacist

· You can let the Pharmacy Technician know about any issues or concerns with your medication, lifestyle factors, and will ask about how you manage your medicines and offer advice to help with remembering to take medications

· You will then have a review with the Pharmacist to check if medications are needed and working (e.g. check if your symptoms are controlled), and can suggest changes that might help improve control

· Review any side effects

· Check and manage any interactions between medicines, diet, alcohol

· Check all medicine monitoring is up to date, and book any blood tests or other checks that may be needed

What happens after a medicine review

· The Pharmacist will discuss any proposed changes from the review with the GP

· Your community pharmacy may be contacted to help with any changes

· We may refer onwards, with your consent, to get additional help and support from other members of the team – such as GPs, Nurses, Social Prescribers, Care Co-ordinator, Health and Wellbeing Coaches

Helping to remember take your medication