Care Opinion

Lack of medication

Posted By Orca

"Lack of medication"

About: University Hospital Hairmyres / Emergency Department

(as a relative),

My brother was taken to A&E at University Hospital Hairmyres suffering from chest pains by Ambulance, where we waited for 2hrs to see a Dr, the wait time is not really the issue. My brother is epileptic and we informed staff that we did not have his evening meds with us as we did not have time to get them together and we were told that the pharmacy was closed.

If a patient is brought in to A&E in an emergency may I ask who has time to pickup medication in case the pharmacy is closed! In this case one of the nurses was able to source my brothers meds for the evening.He was not admitted to a ward but did spend the night in a cubicle in the A&E department and had the same problem with sourcing his medication in the morning but eventually received them.

The staff did suggest that he has his medication with him in the future. I am disgusted that the suggestion of bringing your own medication to a hospital in an emergency in case the Pharmacy is closed ! Would love to hear how this can be justified?

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Responses

Response from Lise Axford, Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 11 months ago
Lise Axford
Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 11/04/2024 at 23:54
Published on Care Opinion at 23:54

picture of Lise Axford

Dear Orca

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding your the provision of your brother’s anti epileptic medication when he attended the A&E department with chest pain.

I am sorry that staff suggested that your brother should have bought his medication with him when experiencing chest pain and having to attend in an emergency. I would also not expect them to suggest he had his tablets with him in future.

The A&E department stocks emergency drugs rather than medication that patients are likely to take on a daily basis. This is due to most patients being admitted to a ward in a timely manner or discharged home. However ongoing pressures in NHS Lanarkshire unfortunately means that patients are waiting for an excessive time in our A&E departments and are frequently waiting several hours before admission to a ward. A&E does not have the capacity and resource to stock drugs in the same way as a ward.

Nonetheless, I would expect staff to source an essential drug such as your brothers and if unable to do so, contact the on call pharmacist.

I agree, that in an emergency, many people would not prioritise picking up their own tablets before coming to hospital. Again I apologise that this was the impression that was given.

I will share your comments with the A&E senior clinicians who will discuss with the wider team so staff can reflect on their comments and actions. Feedback is important to us all and I appreciate you taking the time to share your comments on behalf of your brother. Please pass on my apologies to him.

Kind regards

Lise

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