PPSS: Medicines Optimisation Clinic
Referral Criteria
The psychological practitioner and GP will contact patients whom they believe may benefit from this service.
However, if you are a health professional and feel you have a suitable patient please do not hesitate to discuss this with us through our duty consultation contact number. You can book an appointment to speak to us for further advice (this is not for patients).
Who are we and what do we do?
Currently, our team is made up of a General Practitioner and Psychological Practitioner, both with special interests in rehabilitation and pain management, who will work together with the patient.
Our team aims to work with you to develop a plan to try and ensure you get the maximum benefits from the medication you take. This may include:
- Reviewing your health history
- Making sure you are taking your medication correctly
- Suggesting some non- medication pain management strategies
- Discussing helpful coping mechanisms
- Avoiding taking unnecessary medications
- Improving the safety of your medication usage
- Discussing concerns you may have about the effects of your medication
See the drop- downs below to find out more about the individual roles found in the Medicines Optimisation team.
What is the role of the General Practitioner in the Medicines Optimisation team?
They will work with you to discuss your experience of pain and the impact it has on your life. The different options available to you with regards to medical and non- medical treatments available can also be discussed alongside the advantages and disadvantages of these options. Also, if necessary they will provide you with information on the correct and safe way to take the medication prescribed, any potential side effects, and what to do if you would like to reduce or stop medication you are already taking.
What is the role of the Psychological Practitioner in the Medicines Optimisation team?
Working alongside the General Practitioner, the psychological practitioner will work with you to fully understand the psychological and social impacts of living with your pain. Together you can explore the different treatment options available to you, how you will manage changes that you might like to make, and consider what other actions and strategies may be helpful to support you in managing your pain differently.
What to expect if you contact our service or come to see us?
If you are referred to this service, you will be invited to your first appointment with both a General Practitioner and Psychological Practitioner or Living Well Coach. This initial appointment will create the opportunity to discuss the best way to optimise your medication with a regime that is suitable to you as an individual. This is a highly patient focused approach and will require thinking about your current lifestyle and circumstances.
As a long term process, you will gain increased understanding of your pain, your medication, and other non- medical strategies to implement alongside medication use in order to improve your quality of life and allow you to do more of things that are important to you.
Confidentiality
Details of your sessions are held in your shared medical record, but you can tell us if you do not feel ok with anything being shared with your GP or other members of your care team.
We will only talk about you outside the team when you give permission, or if we think you are at risk of harm and we need to protect you or others.
We will keep your GP and/ or care team up to date by copying them into letters we send to you, and keeping them informed as to your progress.
Why this approach?
Information from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society suggests that in order to improve your quality of life, ensure your safety, and allow you to do more of the things that matter, it is essential we offer a patient focused approach.
What do our patients say?
As this is a new service, the clinic is still in the development phase and will be subject to improvement via patient feedback. You may be invited to complete some patient self- report measures and patient feedback forms. Getting your feedback and listening to what you find helpful is really important in order to shape the service and ensure that it remains patient- focused.