Get the best out of mental health medicines

Following the success of last year’s event local people who use mental health services provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and their carers are invited to a special medicines information event on Monday 13th June. Anyone from the Trust’s areas of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield is invited to attend.

The working together to get the best out of medicines event is being organised by the Trust’s drug and therapeutics trust action group to help highlight what information is available in the Trust and elsewhere regarding medicines prescribed for people with mental health problems.

It is the action group’s responsibility to advise the Trust on policy related to appropriate use, availability and cost of medicines, related products and physical therapies to be used within the Trust. The group also monitors the entry of new medicines and therapies in the Trust with reference to the impact on patient care, safety and cost implications.

This special information day will run from 10.30am to 4pm in the conference room at the learning and development centre, Fieldhead, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, WF1 3SP and will be an opportunity to offer an update on the work that has taken place over the year in response to requests made by service users at last year’s event. The event may also be useful to people who use the Trust’s learning disability services.

At the event attendees can have their say on the future of information provision surrounding medicines within the Trust and take part in workshops that aim to encourage group discussion about medicines.

There will also be a number of speakers including the Trust’s medical director Dr Nisreen Booya and the chief pharmacist Lynn Haygarth, and service users and their carers will be able to ask questions relating to the Trust’s policy on prescribing medicines.

Kate Dewhirst, medicines management pharmacist, said, "This is an ideal opportunity for people who use the Trust’s mental health services and their carers to hear indepth information about medicines and suggest what questions they could ask if their treatment plan includes prescribed medicine. This will help to tackle any worries they might have surrounding medicines. Trust staff will also be on hand to offer advice and practical support about how to take medicines associated with mental health problems."

Places at the event are limited so people interested in attending are advised to book in advance. Transport from across the area may be available and public transport rate expenses will be paid. Please indicate when booking if transport will be required. Bookings can be made through Christine Smith on 01422 281351.