28-Day Dispensing on Discharge
Aim
The aim of this project is to ensure that 28-day, whole pack dispensing
will be fully implemented across Northern Ireland by March 2008 with resultant improvements in the quality
of patient care and efficiency.
Background
When patients are discharged from hospital to primary care they receive
(as required) a supply of medicines to allow them time to organise further supplies on prescription
from their GP or other prescriber. Prior to October 2004, hospitals provided a 3-day supply. In
September 2004, however the Department issued Circular HSS(SC) 8/04 (PDF 393 KB)
which indicated that from 1 October 2004, the normal hospital discharge supply of medicines would become
28 days, in original patient packs (where appropriate).
The change to 28-day discharge dispensing was prompted by concerns about
patient safety, compliance and access, but also offered an opportunity to realise significant savings,
reduce waste and improve continuity of treatment.
Benefits of the project
The benefits which will be realised from the project are:
- Improved patient safety and compliance – the risk that patients will take medication home on discharge without the product information leaflet (PIL) is reduced, thus improving compliance and safety.
- Better access for patients – patients requiring medicines have a longer period in which to secure a new prescription and have the medicine dispensed.
- Potential savings of around £3.6 million from the move to original pack dispensing; and a reduction in the volume of requests to GPs and community pharmacies from this source.
Progress to date
Current assessments of the value of the efficiency delivered by this
new approach suggest that the HPSS is on track to deliver savings in the region of £3.6 million in comparison
to the cost that would have been incurred had the previous system of a 3-day supply of medication by
the hospital followed by a 25-day supply provided in the community remained in place.
Project Manager
David Galloway
Northern and Southern Board Unit
Secondary Care Directorate
Northern and Southern Board Unit
Secondary Care Directorate
