Get the best out of mental health medicines

Date:

People who use mental health services provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and their carers are invited to a special medicines information event on Friday 22nd June. Anyone from the Trust’s areas of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield is invited to attend.

Following the success of last year’s event 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 regarding medicines prescribed for people with mental health problems.

The action group 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 10am 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 share their views about medicines management and help influence the future of information provision surrounding medicines within the Trust. Attendees are also invited to take part in a series of workshops that aim to encourage group discussion about medicines.

Workshop topics are: •Experiences with medicines for memory and dementia •Experiences with medicines for mood disorders •Experiences with medicines for psychosis •Physical health and mental health medicines

There will also be a number of speakers including the Trust’s medical director Dr Nisreen Booya, and service users and their carers will be able to ask questions relating to the Trust’s policy on prescribing medicines. Topics being presented this year include a session about frequently asked questions such as ‘can I have a glass of wine with this?’, or can I drive on this medicine?’ A presentation will also be made by the Trust’s principle pharmacist Mubashshir Fazlee about The Right Prescription campaign, which is looking at reducing the use of antipsychotic medicines for people with dementia.

Kate Dewhirst, deputy chief pharmacist, said, "We would like to encourage anybody who uses mental health services provided by the Trust and their carers to come along to this event. It is an ideal opportunity to find out information about medicines and learn more if their treatment plan includes prescribed medicine. We hope we can help alleviate any worries people might have around medicines and members of the team will be available throughout the day to offer more advice and practical support."

Places at the event are limited so people interested in attending are advised to book in advance via 01422 281351. Please indicate when booking if transport will be required.

Get the best out of mental health medicines

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