Hospital pharmacies

Hospital pharmacists are responsible for all medicines used in a hospital.

As experts in medicines, hospital pharmacists:

• purchase and dispense prescribed medicines
• provide widespread advice about the selection and administration of medicines
• provide advice about medicine doses and the most appropriate form (such as a tablet, ointment or inhaler)
• calculate doses of complex therapies such as antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents
• participate in ward rounds – taking patient drug histories and helping determine treatment
• reconcile medicines on admission, and sometimes, discharge from hospital
• work with medical staff to address any problems patients may have taking their medicines
• ensure medicines are stored appropriately and securely
• stay up to date with, and contribute to, research and development
• write guidelines for drug use and implement safe and legal practices
• supervise and teach.

There is a pharmacist on-call after hours, seven days a week. Contact the duty nurse manager at Nelson or Wairau hospitals.