Pharmacist

The pharmacist's main role is to look at the patients' medication and to make sure that everything that's prescribed is appropriate and safe for the patient in terms of the dose, the way it's given, how often it's given and if there are any side effects.

It is not uncommon for some of the patient's normal medicines to be stopped when he or she is admitted to Intensive Care, or for new ones to be started.The pharmacist will offer advice on whether or not they should be started or stopped.

The pharmacist will also be involved in your discharge planning. He or she will speak with you before you go home about any new tablets, including what they're for, how and when to take them and any side-effects to look out for.If there are any changes in the dose of some of the medications you were taking before you ended up in Intensive Care, he/she should explain this too.

Your hospital discharge letter will include a list of any medications you were on at hospital discharge, and you should normally be given around a week's worth of medication.You should see your GP to arrange an ongoing supply of medication.