Pharmacy staff are playing a key role in improving patient experience and helping the flow of patients medically fit to leave Walsall Manor Hospital by working more closely with nursing colleagues
From 1 October, to support the flow of patients for discharges, Walsall Healthcare Pharmacist Kamal Klair started visiting the Discharge Lounge to resolve any medication-related issues that could cause delays.
Kamal also liaises with the other ward-based Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians from the base ward that the patient has been transferred from as well as the Dispensary Team, to help ensure a timely medicines supply. The Pharmacist on the Discharge Lounge is available to offer additional support to patients about their medicines so that they understand how to take them correctly. This is a good example of staff demonstrating our Trust values of Teamwork and Professionalism to improve patient care and patient experience.
Pharmacist Kamal said: “Being on the Discharge Lounge means I am best placed to stop or change inappropriate medications on discharge. As an example, I had one case where a patient’s painkiller medication had been stopped but the patient was still being prescribed a medicine for stomach protection. Overusing that medicine could have led to an increased risk of the C Diff infection so it was important that this was stopped as well.”
Jacqueline Baraket, Nurse in Charge of Discharge Lounge said, “ Having Kamal as part of the Discharge Lounge team has already had a positive impact. In the short time he has been with us so far we have seen a reduction in waiting time for patients needing medication and the number of ambulances we have had to delay because medication is not ready in time has also been reduced.”
Nalini Patel, Pharmacy Operations Manager added that Heena Bhagat, Lead Pharmacist, and Gemma Harris, Pharmacy Technical Manager for ward-based services are also collating patient feedback in relation to their pharmacy experience on the Discharge Lounge. Nursing staff are also involved in this and are supporting Pharmacy to implement actions for improvements.
“The feedback we have had so far captures how having Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians on the Discharge Lounge benefits our patients and supports our nursing colleagues in their work.”