Thread by @iQFilmmaker

So yesterday we may have saved a life in the local community pharmacy yesterday.
#MentalHealth

THREAD...

It was an extremely busy afternoon in the normally quiet pharmacy. I was checking nomad trays in the back breaking off every 5 minutes to check waiting prescriptions.

Whilst in the checking room, my counter assistant approached me asking if I could see this patient as she was a little unsure as to what to do. The patient had mentioned to her that they had been suffering from anxiety and wished to buy something for it.

With a cctv screen in the back, I had a look at the patient and noticed from their body language something wasn’t quite right. I mentioned I would come out to speak to them.

With the pharmacy full of patients, I decided to immediately take the patient into the consultation room. Once in the consultation room the patient sat down and we had a chat about the problems and how I could help.

The patient mentioned that they had been to the doctors but there were no appointments and was signposted to the pharmacy to see if we could help.

They also mentioned not being able to sleep, eat, work etc. This rang alarm bells. I decided to perform a PHQ-9. Something that I had been trained to do in my training to become an independent prescriber by my mentor in a GP practice.

The final question asks about potential suicidal thoughts or self harm. The patient mentioned that they were thinking about it and had been everyday for the past week. I reassured the patient that they would be fine and decided to at that point offer them a cuppa tea.

Whilst doing so, I also mentioned that I would get them help straight away. I decided to ring the NHS Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team in my area, where I spoke to a clinician (who was absolutely lovely I must say), I gave them the background and history of the patient.

I passed the patient the phone and told them help is on the other end of this call and I was just popping out to check some prescriptions. But I would pop in now and again to see how they were.

After checking patient’s prescriptions (whilst apologising profusely for the delay) I checked back up on the patient. They passed over the phone to me where I finished the call with the clinician

The clinician mentioned that they would send out somebody to the patient’s home asap as they were in immediate danger.

I spoke to the patient asking how they were and mentioning that they were not alone in this battle. The patient left the pharmacy to go home feeling better.

I was first of all really proud of my assistant for referring the patient to me and secondly thankful that I had such intense training for a potential situation that could and DID happen.

Thirdly, please people, only go to see your GP for urgent appointments. If the problem can be solved by the pharmacist then please walk into your local one. This is just one of many patients that could have done with a GP appointment immediately.

And last but not least, If at any point you can’t get an urgent appointment at your doctors, then please walk into your local pharmacy. If we can’t treat your problem, we most certainly can signpost and help you to get the best treatment. I promise.

If the pharmacy is closed then feel free to ring 111. You will get the opportunity to speak to a healthcare professional. In case of an emergency call 999.

Thanks for reading this thread and please pass it on to to anyone who needs this.
Thanks.
#Pharmacy #MentalHealth

#HowIFightDepression