Introduction

Clinical pharmacy

Introduction

Managing medicines safely, effectively and efficiently is central to the delivery of high-quality care that is focused on the patient and gives value for money. Over the past two decades, growing evidence from within and outside the UK has demonstrated the positive impact of clinical pharmacy services on patient outcomes; the Department of Health recognised that pharmacists’ clinical skills and expertise are an integral part of delivering better services to patients in the 2008 pharmacy White Paper, and reinforced this in 2010, identifying their role in optimising the use of medicines. Examples include reductions in medication-related adverse events, lower treatment costs, better patient outcomes, reduced length of stay and reduced readmission rates.

However, simply attempting to develop and implement best practice as opportunities permit is becoming increasingly unacceptable as the regulatory framework surrounding medicines management becomes more demanding. In addition to working towards delivery of numerous national recommenda-tions, hospitals are also now required to register with the Care Quality Commission and meet the medicines management standards detailed in its essential standards of quality and safety (see Chapter 1). The standards detail regulations, outcomes and prompts to protect patients against the risks asso-ciated with the unsafe use and management of medicines, in accordance with regulation 13 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010. Compliance with the standards can only be achieved with the delivery of high-quality clinical pharmacy services.