26 July 2010
The pharmacy department at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has embarked on an ambitious project to reduce the number of phone calls nursing staff have to make.
From 1 July, new prescription software will mean that nurses, doctors and other medical staff at St Helier Hospital will no longer have to pick up the phone and call the pharmacy department to find out when patients' prescriptions are ready.
It is hoped that the new initiative will free up nurses' time - allowing them to spend more time with patients - as well as reduce the number of interruptions in the dispensary.
Anne Davies is the Trust's Chief Pharmacist. She explained: "We calculated that the pharmacy department was getting about 900 phone calls a week, many of them from ward staff asking whether medicines that patients take home with them were ready for collection.
"The new software means those staff can simply click an icon on their computer, and view - in real-time - whether the prescription is ready and waiting, in progress, or not yet started. It's really easy to use."
The hardware and software, which cost £16,000 has already won favour with frontline staff. Simon Drane is a junior charge nurse on the specialist cardiology unit at St Helier. He said: "It's good news for patients as they get their medicine quicker, and good news for staff as we spend less time on the phone."
The system is currently being rolled-out across the wards and departments at St Helier Hospital, and will be phased in at Epsom Hospital from September.
