AN INNOVATIVE new electronic tool which sees patients receiving a bespoke appointment with their community pharmacist on discharge from hospital, has been launched by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

‘Refer-to-Pharmacy’ is the first of its kind in England and sees patients who are being treated in its hospital visited by a hospital pharmacist and an electronic referral appointment set up with the community pharmacist with all their medication information for when they return home.

Patients often start new medicines in hospital or have their doses changed, which can lead to potential problems when they return home as their medication at home or repeat prescription slips are not up to date with any changes.

By receiving an electronic referral from the hospital pharmacy team using the Refer to Pharmacy system, the community pharmacist is alerted to a patient’s discharge and the vital information about medication changes, which they can then use to support patients at a time that suits both and ensuring continuity of care.

Hospital bosses said they hope the scheme will help patients get the best from their medicines and stay healthy at home.

The scheme was created in response to problems with changes to patients’ medicines.

‘Refer- to-Pharmacy’ will benefit around 20,000 patients at the Trust each year with 75 referrals taking place on average each day.

Dr Ian Stanley, Deputy Medical Director at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Refer-to-Pharmacy is a true example of patient-centred care.”