{"id":547,"date":"2022-02-07T23:18:04","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T23:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/referral-pathways\/referral-pathways-pharmacy\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T10:57:51","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T10:57:51","slug":"referral-pathways-pharmacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/referral-pathways-pharmacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pharmacy: Referral Pathway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Too many Care Home residents are
not getting the best from their medicines
or are taking medicines which are
doing them more harm than good and may be reducing their quality of life.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Referral process for a medication review for a Care Home Resident<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Primary care pharmacists, working in GP practices, are well placed to carry out a comprehensive medication review, if required, for residents.  Pharmacists are experts in medicines, and working with the GP and the practice-based team they can ensure Care home residents receive the right medicines at the right time and in the right way to maximise the benefits from their medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primary care pharmacists also have links with Medicine of the Elderly (MOE) consultants in secondary care and can seek expert opinion if required.  The pharmacy team also have allocated sessions with MOE specialists specifically for collaborative working\/reviewing medicines in this patient group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important, where possible, that the resident (and\/or their family members or carers, as appropriate, and in line with the resident’s wishes) and care home staff are involved in the medication review. The pharmacist, where possible, will explain the purpose of the medication review to the resident (and\/or their family members or carers) and establish what their views and understanding of the medicines prescribed are.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Who should I refer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society believes “all residents should receive a review of their medication by a pharmacist when they first move into a care home in order to optimise their medication regime”<\/em> (see Improving Medicines Use for Care Home Residents<\/a> (March 2016). “Every care home resident should have a pharmacist led medicines review at least once a year or whenever a medicine is started, stopped or changed and when a resident moves between care settings”<\/em> (see The Right Medicine: Improving Care in Care Homes<\/a> (February 2016).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Referral for a medication review is recommended for residents who are:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n