Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – Pharmacists working with Community Mental Health Teams

Pharmacists Working with Community Mental Health Teams

The Nottinghamshire Healthcare Pharmacy Team includes pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, assistant technical officers and administrative staff. The team aims to ensure that medication is optimal so that people can get the most from their medicines. Some of the ways we help achieve this are by providing advice and medicines information to patients and colleagues, reviewing prescriptions and by training of colleagues on medication related matters.

A 6 month pilot project employing a part-time pharmacist to offer support and advice to the Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP) Nottingham City Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) began in 2017. The pilot was successful and demonstrated benefits of having a dedicated pharmacist working with the CMHTs. Pharmacists are currently working as integral members of the following MHSOP CMHTs: Nottingham City, Mansfield and Ashfield, Bassetlaw and Broxtowe. Support to the Rushcliffe CMHT is planned to begin in the near future. The Pharmacy Team is also supporting several CMHTs in the Adult Mental Health (AMH) services.

Pharmacist roles in the CMHTs include:

• Facilitating the safe and effective use of medications • Providing medication advice to patients and carers

• Attending multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings

• Providing medication advice to members of the MDT

• Medication reviews, including where there is a history of falls or a complex medication regimen

• Answering medicine information queries

We have a range of patient information leaflets available including those from Choice and Medication and mAPPs, which are available in various formats if required.

• Identifying medication related training needs and delivering training sessions to members of the MDT

• Providing advice and support where there are difficulties remembering to take medication • Performing medication related audits to ensure best practice Having a pharmacist as part of the CMHT allows greater specialist and individualised medication input. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and are ideally placed to provide advice and support about medications both to individuals and to members of the MDT. The pharmacists not only have in depth knowledge of mental health medications, but also have expertise in medications for physical health. We are able to offer advice about all aspects of medications including medication choice, side effects and monitoring required.

As we get older changes in the body mean we handle medication differently and we can become more sensitive to medication. We are also more likely to be taking multiple medications

We have a range for different health issues. Pharmacists of patient information can help review medication, together leaflets available with the individual and prescriber, to including those from Choice and Medication ensure medication prescribed is safe and effective. and mAPPs, which are The pharmacy team support patient available in various involvement when decisions are made formats if required. about medications. We have a range of patient information leaflets available including those from Choice and Medication and mAPPs, which are available in various formats if required. The pharmacists working with CMHTs can be contacted if you have queries about medication. Advice and support can be provided in person, via telephone or by email.

Feedback about the service:

A service evaluation reported that having a pharmacist working with the team helped with medication safety issues and selecting medication when there were complex factors such as multiple medications. It increased confidence of clinicians in medication choice and helped in reassuring patient/carer concerns about prescribed medication.

“Increased knowledge of specific medications to be used with clients in the community. Supported clinicians with pharmacological awareness of drug interactions”

“Very useful, particularly the recent antipsychotic training”

“Very approachable. Very knowledgeable. Useful in identifying areas of further learning from staff and facilitating that”

Contact Details

The pharmacy team is available to help support with medicine related issues so that people get the best possible outcomes from their medication. If you would like to speak to a pharmacist about your medication please contact either your CMHT to speak to the dedicated team pharmacist, or your local hospital pharmacy department (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm):

Bassetlaw Hospital 01909 572002 Highbury Hospital, Nottingham 0115 8542247 Wells Road Centre, Nottingham 0115 9555357 Millbrook Unit, Sutton-in-Ashfield 0115 9560883

Patient information about medicines for mental health:

http://www. choiceandmedication. org/nottinghamshire healthcare/