Supporting patients with unlicensed medicine use: Analysing the script schemas for prescribing, pharmaceutical assessment and supply.

Unlicensed medicines (ULMs) are those which have not received authorisation from a regulator, as such they do not have the same reassurances around safety and efficacy as licensed medicines. This study aimed to explore the use of ULMs from the perspectives of prescribers, pharmacists and patients within the UK National Health Service (NHS) setting. Grounded theory was used as a framework, conducting 28 semi-structured qualitative interviews with prescribers, pharmacists and patients across both primary and secondary care settings.

Evaluating a potential role for community pharmacists in post-bariatric patient nutritional support.

Physiological changes to the body from bariatric surgery necessitate lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation to prevent potential nutritional deficiencies. Presently, there is no consensus on appropriate long-term follow-up in community settings for people who have undergone bariatric surgery. Current UK guidelines recommend annual monitoring of nutritional status, but little else.

Exploring the Patient-Reported Impact of the Pharmacist on Pre-bariatric Surgical Assessment.

Background: The effects of surgical procedures and the need for life-long nutrient supplementation may impact on medication regimes, requiring changes to dosage and formulation of medicines, which can be difficult for patients following surgery. Our pre-surgical assessment pathway involves a pharmacist with specialist knowledge of bariatric surgery, to help prepare patients for these changes.

Objective: To explore the patient-reported impact of the specialist bariatric pharmacist in pre-surgical assessment.

Unlicensed medicines use: a UK guideline analysis using AGREE II.

Objectives: There is widespread use of unlicensed medicines within primary and secondary care but little information is available around how these medicines are used. This analysis examines and evaluates the content and quality of relevant guidance documentation currently in use within the UK.

Methods: Guidance documents were identified through a literature search as well as email requests to pharmacy organisations throughout the UK.

What happens when 55% of acute psychiatric beds are closed in six days: an unexpected naturalistic observational study.

Objective: The sudden closure of 30 out of 54 acute psychiatric beds in Cornwall presented a stressful challenge to staff but also a natural experiment on how a service dealt with this situation. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients needing to leave the closed ward, how bed occupancy rates were affected and the impact on admission rates.

Design: A service evaluation of the impact of the ward closure.