The aim of the clinical pharmacy service is to provide pharmaceutical care to patients, thus ensuring that the medicines provided for each individual patient are safe, effective, economic and rational. The service should also detect, solve and prevent actual and potential medicine related problems in order to improve the patient's overall care. However, the number of long stay beds is being reduced, with more care being provided in the community. The pharmacy service is more patient than prescription focused. The pharmacist can have a role in relation to certain aspects of the Mental Health Act.
Patients have different needs in terms of information relating to their medication.
This document has been produced by the South East Psychiatric Pharmacy Network as a guide to the range of activities performed by pharmacists working in psychiatry. We have stated standards for each activity but decided that it was more appropriate for local pharmacy managers to quantify each standard and to state how each standard would be measured. This is because of the wide range of working practices and situations within the region. A guide to how each standard could be assessed is included. The pharmacist will ensure that the medication is appropriate for the patient.