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Pharmacy waiting times

Posted By Stobhill hospital outpatient

"Pharmacy waiting times"

About: Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

(as the patient),

I attended the Beatson centre Glasgow during a week of appointments there in preparation for radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.   I was feeling very tired already, having had brain surgery on two occasions in the previous month, plus two all day appointments at the Beatson.   I had arrived at the Beatson at 11: 00am  for a CT scan.   I then had an MRI scan in the afternoon, and an appointment with the Clinical Nurse Specialist after that during which we discussed and changed my medications.   That meeting finished just before 2: 30pm, and she advised me and my husband to go and have a cup of tea and then come round to the pharmacy around 20 mins later, when the prescription should be ready.   When we went to the pharmacy I was told that there was an error in the prescription and they would need to ask the nurse specialist to revise it.   I notice she did come down to the pharmacy immediately after that.   However, if there was an error with the prescription, why was she not contacted until I went into the pharmacy and asked for my prescription?   We then had to wait until around 3: 55pm for the prescription to be ready.   I was completely exhausted and felt ill for the rest of the day.   Is there any way the Beatson could consider having a system of checking how long patients have been there that day and prioritising accordingly?   Or perhaps they already do and there were lots of other people in the same situation.   Or could the Beatson consider having a few beds available near the pharmacy so that patients who need to can lie down while they wait?   I am being told by healthcare professionals to get as much rest as possible during this time, prior to starting radiotherapy and chemotherapy.   I am trying my best, but situations like this don't make it easy! 

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 14/08/2018 at 11:44
Published on Care Opinion at 13:33

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Stobhill Hospital Outpatient

Thank you for getting in touch.

I would like to offer my sincere apologies for the delays you experienced whilst waiting for your medication and the impact this had on your health and wellbeing.

I will contact my colleagues in Pharmacy about your suggestion of having a system of checking how long patients have been at the hospital and then prioritising patients to avoid lengthy waits.

I will also share your suggestion about having a few beds near Pharmacy so that patients can rest whilst they wait for their medication.

I hope you managed to get some rest when you got home.

Kind Regards

Nicole

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Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 17/08/2018 at 11:46
Published on Care Opinion at 12:06

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Stobhill Hospital Outpatient

I am very sorry to hear that you had a significant wait for your medicines when you attended the Beatson Cancer Centre for your appointment. I understand how difficult this must have been for you at this stage in your treatment and unfortunately the issues that needed to be clarified in your prescription will have contributed to this. I am sure that you understand that these checks are to ensure that medicine prescribed for you is as safe and effective as possible and are an important part of the process. You may be aware that the pharmacy dispensary at the Beatson provides medication for large numbers of both inpatients and outpatients and it would be extremely difficult to prioritise dispensing in the way you suggest. We do have a seating area at the pharmacy but unfortunately there is no space at present to allow us to create an area with additional beds for to be used in the way you describe. We are always looking at different ways of dispensing to speed up the supply process e.g. supply from community pharmacy and will continue to work on this so that as few patients as possible experience these type of delays. Sincere apologies once again for the inconvenience you experienced.

Kind Regards

Janice Watt

Lead Pharmacist Acute Services

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