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A network of pharmacists across the Northern Health and Social Services Board (NHSSB) area is proving to be of excellent benefit to patients being cared for at home requiring palliative care drugs.
The Community Pharmacy Palliative Care Service was established in January 2005 to improve access to specialist medicines used to treat symptoms experienced by people with progressively advancing disease when being cared for at home.
Twelve community pharmacies in total across the NHSSB area are participating in the scheme and each pharmacy stocks a range of specialist palliative medicines and can provide information and advice on use of these specialist medicines.
Marbeth Ferguson, Co-ordinator for the NHSSB Pharmaceutical Palliative Care Service, described some of the findings produced in the Service’s Annual Report:
“Monitoring data collected during the first year of the service has been very encouraging, with some excellent examples of how the service has benefited patients, their carers and healthcare professionals.”
From January to December 2005, the service was accessed on 84 occasions. During this period 93 items were supplied, with over 91% being provided within two hours of request. Advice and information on medicines for palliative care was provided 43 times via the service during 2005.
Jonathan Lloyd from Carrickfergus Chemists explained how the service works:
“Sometimes specialist palliative medicines are not readily available from a patient’s usual community pharmacy. With the scheme in place the pharmacist can contact a colleague in the network to arrange availability of the medicine”
“GPs, Community Nurses, Community Pharmacists and out-of-hours medical and nursing services have contact details and can help patients and their carers’ access local palliative care pharmacies.”
his service is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. For further information and a service information leaflet contact the Palliative Care Liaison Pharmacist, United Hospitals HSS Trust, Pharmacy Department, Antrim Area Hospital.
Jonathan Llyod from Carrickfergus Chemists is one of twelve community pharmacies in across the Northern Board area participating in the Pharmaceutical Palliative Care scheme. Each pharmacy stocks a range of specialist palliative medicines and can provide information and advice on use of these specialist medicines.
Jonathan is pictured with Marbeth Ferguson, Co-ordinator for the NHSSB Pharmaceutical Palliative Care Service and Emer McLean, Community Pharmacy Advisor, NHSSB | 
