PHARMACISTS and pharmacy technicians at Worcestershire's hospitals have been praised for their efforts to improve quality of care and safety for patients.

Independent healthcare watchdog the Healthcare Commission has said Worcestershire Acute Hospitals' pharmacists have made considerable progress in improving medicines management.

In a national survey published on August 11 evaluating how all NHS trusts are currently managing medicines, the trust was awarded a 'good' rating - the second highest.

Chief pharmacist Rachael Montgomery said: "This is good news for patients because it shows that our efforts to modernise pharmacy services are bringing real benefits for them.

"We are in the process of implementing a medicines management programme within the trust, where pharmacy staff are moving out of the central dispensary and on to wards to work alongside nurses and doctors as part of the ward multi-disciplinary team.

"These ward-based pharmacy teams will be responsible for speaking to patients when they come in to clarify what medicines they are currently taking, including over the counter or complementary medicines, and also ask them about any allergies or intolerances they may have to medicines or foods.

"They can then use their specialist pharmaceutical knowledge to discuss best treatment options for patients with the medical team and also supply any additional medicines they will need to take home with them, ready-labelled for discharge. These medicines can then be stored in a bedside locker to be administered when needed by the ward nurses."

"Because the pharmacy team are dispensing the discharge prescription at the patient's bedside, they can provide patients with information about their medicines and also be on hand to answer any questions they may have about their medication."

Ms Montgomery said anyone coming into hospital as an in-patient could help by making sure they brought all medicines they were currently taking in with them.

"This will ensure that we get the most accurate information about their current medication, guarantee continuity of care and prevent unnecessary wastage of medicines," she said. "Patients can be reassured by today's survey that we are striving to offer a good service with the two main goals of improving medicines safety and maximising the benefits that patients can get from their medicines.

"Patients can really help us in this by bringing in their current medication, as this will help us respond most appropriately to their individual needs."