Information About Medicines

Safety

Every month our practice prints close to three thousand prescriptions.  As all tablets, creams and inhalers cane be dangerous we make it our responsibility to help all our patients to use their medication safely.  This is a very big task and one which we can do more easily with your help.  Our computer tells us when someone may be over using or under using their tablets and also tells us if a mix of medication is potentially dangerous.  This is all double checked by the pharmacist.

Everyone who uses regular medication has a review every year. This may involve blood tests, breathing tests, having your blood pressure checked or asking about side effects.  For more detailed information about how we manage repeat medication safely please ask to see our repeat prescribing protocol.

In order to help us manage medication safely and to avoid waste we would ask you to:

• Order all your repeat medication at the same time, rather than some one week and some at another time
• Let us know if you have stopped taking any medication
• Come for medication reviews and tests when asked
• Ask for medication using the repeat prescribing phone line, this web site or by dropping a note into the surgery.
• Let us know if you take any herbal or alternative medicines regularly

Costs

Medication is very costly.  We look after 5300 patients and are given a budget for medication which is just below £1 million.  The NHS can make big savings if medication is not wasted or stockpiled.  If you do have a lot of tablets left over or stored away, please let the practice know.

If you pay the NHS prescription charge for medication please note that sometimes the tablets we prescribe you may be cheaper for you to buy over the counter. Ask the chemist for advice.

Finding out about medication

If you want to know more about any of the medication you are using, what side effects it may give you or what its benefits are there are some excellent web sites to help you.  We would recommend you start any enquiry at www.patient.co.uk.  Alternatively you could ask the excellent Lockside Pharmacist, Mr James Fish, (0161 338 6612) or enquire with the doctors or nurses at the practice by a telephone consultation.

If you want to understand more about your medication and the reasons why we use them you may be interested in looking at some of the information sources the doctors and nurses use to keep ourselves up to date.  Try:

Drugs and therapeutics bulletin.  This is published by Which and the Consumers Association.  It is designed to be read by both health professionals and the general public. Follow the links through their Health and Beauty section.

BNF

This is the british National Formulary and contains information about every type of medication used in the UK, by GPs, Dentists and hospital specialists.

Clinical evidence 

This is an easy to use guide to some of the most effective things health care workers can do to help you recover from an illness and remain healthy.

NICE.

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence. This is the Government sponsored research unit of the NHS which look at whether new treatments should be offered on the NHS.  Look particularly at the 'Guidance' section.