06/09/2016 - Permalink

New Pharmacy role helps patients go home quicker

Related topics: Community / Health / Partner organisations

News from our partners Shropshire and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust

Patients who need medication after a stay at Shropshire’s acute hospitals are receiving it 40 minutes quicker than before – meaning they can go home sooner thanks to a new role which is proving a big success.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust has introduced two new Pharmacy Support Officers (PSO) as part of a six-month trial.

The Pharmacy Department at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford each has one PSO whose role is to act as a ‘runner’ collecting prescriptions from Pharmacy for patients and delivering them to the wards.

At PRH the PSO is Surjit Paul, and at RSH it is Lucy Davis.

Vicki Jefferson, Operational Head of Pharmacy at PRH, said:

“A PSO has been appointed at each site until November 2016 to provide a responsive drug delivery service in addition to the scheduled delivery runs already provided.

“As soon as urgently required medication is ready the ‘runner’ delivers it direct to the ward, handing them over to the nurse so that they know immediately that the medication is there.”

Previously it took an average time of 60 minutes from the time To Take Out (TTO) medication was ready to leave pharmacy to it being delivered to the ward.

The new PSO role has reduced this time by 70% to less than 20 minutes.

Vicki said:-

“Providing everything else is in place for the patient to be discharged this enables patients to go home 40 minutes earlier, supporting patient flow for the Trust.

“In addition to the delivery service the runners have been able to support the wards in collecting and delivering other urgent items and paperwork to and from Pharmacy. They have also been answering phone calls to the dispensary enquiring about TTOs. This has enabled dispensary staff to focus on processing the discharges and has reduced interruptions in the dispensing process which we know can increase the risk of errors.

“The service has received excellent feedback from the ward managers recognising that it has freed up time for ward staff no longer having to walk to and from Pharmacy collecting medication they require urgently.”

Ward staff have really welcomed the introduction and hope the trial will turn into a permanent role.

Sarah Sivill, Ward Manager on Ward 9 at PRH, said:

“Ward 9 is an extremely busy ward and we have found this service valuable as previously ward staff would be up and down to Pharmacy several times during the shift resulting in delays on the ward.”

Clare Marsh, Day Surgery Unit Ward Manager at PRH, added:

“It has reduced waiting times for patients, increased efficiency within our ward and led to fewer complaints.”

Sharon Hollister, a Sister on Ward 17 at PRH, added:

“It’s a brilliant role. Surjit is excellent.  It saves time and means that our staff are not interrupted in their work by having to run to Pharmacy.”

Further information

  • The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is the main provider of acute hospital care for almost 500,000 people from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales. Patients come to us from Telford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Newtown and Welshpool in Powys.
  • The Trust continues to work with its partners in health and social care in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales to develop patient-focused services that meet the needs of our communities.
  • If you have any feedback about local healthcare, independent support and signposting is available from Healthwatch Shropshire, Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin and Powys Community Health Council (CHC):

For more information contact John Kirk, Communications and Engagement Manager at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, on 01743 492285.