Calderdale primary care mental health pharmacy team
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About the service
Calderdale mental health primary care pharmacy team are an advanced specialist mental health service who provide support around medication to people in the community.
In our team we have a clinical pharmacist (non-medical prescriber) and a pharmacy technician. We use our skills and expertise to help people get the most out of their medication.
We work with GP (general practitioner) pharmacy teams so that work isn’t duplicated.
Why would someone choose the service?
We support the Calderdale community to get the most out of their medication.
Staff you may meet
A pharmacist is an expert in medicines and their use. They work to ensure that patients get the maximum benefit from their medicines and can practice in hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy or in primary care pharmacy.
Pharmacy technicians prepare and supply medicines for prescriptions, under the supervision of a pharmacist.
Support offered
Support offered
Offer mental health related medicines information to primary care networks
Provide mental health medication related education and training to primary care networks
Structured medication reviews (SMRs) for targeted mental health related regimes
Review discharged patients from Trust inpatient wards within 7 days and provide input where necessary
We offer structured medication reviews to:
People prescribed dosulepin / trimipramine
People prescribed potentially addictive medication used for a mental health condition such as benzodiazepines and z-drugs who have been on the dose/without a review for a certain amount of time
People prescribed high risk medications such as clozapine, depot antipsychotics, lithium, high dose antipsychotics and multiple agents from the same pharmacological class
People diagnosed with dementia prescribed an antipsychotic for BPSD for >3months.
People with a diagnosis of learning disability and/or autism that are prescribed mental health medication (in line with STOMP) for > 3months
People who are prescribed medication with high anticholinergic burden or experiencing these side effects
People at the request of an individual / carer / relative with concerns about the number of mental health medicines they are taking or who have requested counselling or advice on medication requiring a mental health specialist
Outcomes
To optimise the use of medication for mental health conditions across Calderdale.
Referrals accepted from:
GPs, Other NHS services, Other Trust services
Referral criteria:
Referral criteria:
Calderdale residents receiving care under the NHS
Aged over 18 (but may accept younger depending on individual case)
Person has consented to receive input from the mental health pharmacy team
Exclusion criteria:
Person is experiencing a mental health crisis and / or is actively suicidal
Acute intoxication
Acute psychosis
Alcohol withdrawal
Injury which requires treatment
Overdose/treatment or observations required
Personal care
We accept referrals from:
GPs, primary care network pharmacy teams, community pharmacy teams, hospital pharmacy teams, advanced clinical practitioners, practice nurses, health care assistants, mental health practitioners, social prescribers, care coordinators, practice managers, dietitians, care homes, and physical health and wellness teams
Smoking cessation services – specifically all patients prescribed clozapine wishing to reduce or stop smoking