Phone calls to a hospital medicines information helpline: analysis of queries from members of the public and assessment of potential for harm from their medicines.

Objective: To find out what questions the public ask of pharmacists on a hospital medicines information helpline, and to assess the potential for improving individuals' management of medicines through telephone helpline support.

Methods: We analysed consecutive phone calls made by members of the public over 6 months to a hospital pharmacy medicines information helpline. Calls were coded for type of medicine, reason for phoning and any error revealed in the call.