Palliative pharmacy
Most hospices only have access to a generalist pharmacist, who may not have in-depth expertise of palliative medication. And given the complexity of many end-of-life conditions, that’s not ideal. Our palliative pharmacy service provides a direct link to specialist consultant pharmacists, who can make sure your patients receive exactly what they need.
Why you might need us
It’s no secret that getting end-of-life medication right can be stressful. From balancing symptom relief with potential side effects, to keeping on top of new developments and mitigating against shortages, there are some specific challenges that a generalist pharmacist might not be best placed to navigate. And that makes it harder for hospice staff to provide the very best care.
What we offer
Our palliative pharmacists act like part of your team, providing expert advice through a weekly medication and documentation check, scheduled pharmacy reviews and ad-hoc support. They can advise you on everything from perfectly matching the dosage to a patient’s weight and blood chemistry, to assessing the potential suitability of out of licence options, offering an additional layer of governance that improves patient safety.
What you will get from us
Partnering with us for your palliative pharmacy will give your team:
Access to a specialist palliative pharmacist
Weekly monitoring and review of drug charts and documents
Support with tackling drug shortages and identifying alternatives
Advice on the appropriateness of off-licence medication
Training and education to upskill your clinicians
External oversight to support your internal governance
Who’s on the team?
We’ve brought together a team of palliative pharmacy specialists with many years of experience, backed up with in-depth knowledge of the latest developments in their field.
Working with SCUK has been an excellent experience from the very beginning. They have always been extremely flexible in modifying our package to suit our hospice’s needs, and they’ve recently instigated access to a specialist pharmacist consultant, which addresses another long-standing need for our area.
Let’s talk about your team
Find out how our specialist palliative pharmacists could support safer, more effective prescribing for your patients and your team.