By The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2011)
Taking a medicine is the most frequent intervention that patients will use to improve their health. In particular, older people and those with long term conditions rely heavily on medicines as a way of managing their illnesses. These patients, often taking multiple and complex regimens are some of the most vulnerable to problems with their medicines when they transfer care settings. Whether it’s from care homes or primary care to hospitals, or mental health hospitals to the community, or from hospitals back to primary care, these are times when the risk of things going wrong with medicines tends to increase.
It is the responsibility of all the professionals involved in the care of a patient to ensure the safe transfer of information about medicines. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, in collaboration with other royal colleges, patients, health and social care professionals has developed professional guidance that is closely mapped to a range of related national initiatives and guidance.