A quarter of medicines dispensed by hospital pharmacies at NHS Humber Health Partnership (NHSHHP) are for medication patients are already taking before they arrive for treatment, it has been revealed.
NHS HHP runs the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Scunthorpe General Hospital, Goole and District Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.
Patients packing a bag for a planned hospital stay are being urged to include any current medications and prescriptions.
Other items patients are encouraged to bring with them include toiletries, hearing aids, glasses, nightwear, emergency contact details and books/magazines.
Jo Goode, Group Chief Pharmacist for NHS HHP, said: “By not bringing their current medication with them, patients not only risk interrupting their regular medication doses, which could have serious consequences on their long-term condition or treatment, but they’re also unnecessarily costing the NHS money.”
Patients not bringing their own medication in with them is estimated to cost NHS HHP thousands of pounds every week.
A recent audit of patients at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG), which runs hospitals in Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole, highlighted potential savings of £6,000 a week simply by patients bringing their existing medication in with them – that means patients at NLaG alone could help save up to £24,000 a month and £312,000 over the course of a year.
At Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust a recent audit carried our during Diabetes and Insulin Safety Awareness Week found that if patients brought their insulin pens into the hospital and hospital teams managed this medication more efficiently, savings of up to £2,000 each week could be made on insulin supplies alone.
Jo continued: “If you’ve got an operation or procedure coming up, where you need to stay overnight with us, I’d urge you to pack any tablets, liquids, drops, creams or ointments that you’re currently prescribed and may need. By doing so you’ll be looking after your own long-term health and helping your local NHS to save money too.”