Madam, - Further to Peter Mew's letter of October 11th on hospitals supplying medications, we in Letterkenny General have been providing such a service to one of our medical wards for about four years.
In addition to one week's supply of medication, we provide both oral and written information on the new medicines regime. We also speak to families and carers and liaise with community pharmacists, where needed, to ensure continued supply of unusual medicines. Where possible, we reuse patients' own medicines and destroy discontinued ones.
Apart from the obvious convenience to the patient, the service has many benefits, not least in reducing difficulties for community pharmacists and GPs.
It's a very simple idea and works well. However, for many reasons, there are days when providing even this limited service is nearly impossible logistically. We would love to extend the service. It is worth noting that in the UK, where hospital pharmacies are better staffed, it is common practice to provide everyone with their medication as they leave hospital. We are aware of other initiatives of this kind elsewhere in the country. - Yours, etc.,
MARY RYAN,
Senior Pharmacist,
Letterkenny General Hospital,
Co Donegal.