"Poor communication regarding a query"

Poor communication regarding a query re obtaining Clozapine meds during Covid pandemic.

As  the next of kin of a schizophrenic adult son on clozapine  I needed a plan of action should my son need to isolate and not be able to collect his medication from the Pharmacy  in Perth. I asked if meds could be uplifted by myself or a support worker or if they could be delivered  

The pharmacist I spoke to was adamant that my son had to physically present before meds were issued  saying “  don’t worry Mum we are over the worst  of the Covid scare “ I found this patronizing, and trivilializing the dangerous devastation of  disruption of Clozapine treatment ,  ( 48 hours without clozapine requires re titration in a mental health institution) the ramifications of this are enormous .

When I intimated my concerns to his mental health team (Cairnwell) and asked if there was a protocol in place for such an issue, I was advised it was a pharmacy issue.

I accessed NHS inform, Public health Protection,  who acknowledged the implications but could not help ,. I eventually  gained  some  answers from my sons GP practice Pharmacist

Eg  from them contacting the pharmacy They ascertained that should my son require to isolate He should telephone the Pharmacy and  arrangements would be made for a person to collector delivery to be arranged.

This whole scenario has caused undue distress to my son and myself 

I strongly feel NHS Tayside could learn lessons from  a proactive approach as evidenced by other Health Authorities .in providing  best practice guidelines including written patient information  to vulnerable adults and their carers  during these highly anxious times An Internet search of Clozapine / Covid  highlights the importance of such an approach 

I speak as an advocate for my son and as a retired health professional.