Pharmacy

The medicines regulator, MHRA, has made changes to the way sodium valproate products (eg Epilim) are prescribed. These changes affect both males and females.

It is important that you do not stop taking your epilepsy medication without discussing this with your specialist.

This is not an urgent matter and can be discussed at your next review unless you are planning pregnancy.

Males and females should not be prescribed sodium valproate unless two specialists independently consider and document that there is no other effective or tolerated treatment.

Females under our care will need two specialists to independently agree that sodium valproate remains the most effective treatment for their epilepsy as there are concerns about development effects if sodium valproate is taken during pregnancy. This will be discussed at your next clinic appointment. Please ensure you ask your clinician about this.

Sodium valproate may cause fertility issues in males. Males under our care should discuss any concerns at their next review or contact their specialist to discuss.

Further information can be found on:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-on-mhra-review-into-safe-use-of-valproate
https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/news/changes-valproate-prescribed
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/treatment/anti-seizure-medication/new-rules-for-taking-sodium-valproate

The pharmacy service at Alder Hey is responsible for preparing and dispensing all medicines prescribed for inpatients and outpatients as well as providing many other services to the hospital. Pharmacists work closely with clinical teams on the wards, aseptic services and research teams, and also in the outpatient pharmacy where families can pick up prescriptions.

Picking up prescriptions from the outpatient pharmacy

You will find the outpatient pharmacy in the atrium at our hospital, close to the East Prescot Road entrance and Costa Coffee. We can only provide medicines that have been prescribed, and there are five steps to how we do this:

1. Arriving at the pharmacy

We can only begin preparing your prescription when you arrive at the outpatient pharmacy. We will ask you to confirm the patient’s name and date of birth and some questions about the medicine being prescribed e.g. ‘has your child taken this medicine before?’ and ‘does your child have any allergies?’ We will also ask whether your child prefers their medicine in liquid or as tablets and provide medicines in the preferred format whenever possible.

2. We will screen the prescription to make sure it is correct

Asking the questions in step one means we can clinically screen your child’s prescription to make sure it is valid and that the dose is correct for their age. This also helps us make sure the prescription will not interact with any other medicine they are taking.

3. Preparing your prescription

After the clinical screening, we will begin preparing the prescription. Some medicines must be made up especially for your child so these may take a little longer.

4. Checking the information

When the prescription has been prepared, we will check again to make sure the information on the label is the same as on the prescription and then pack it into a bag ready to give to you or to send to your child’s ward.

5. Handing over your prescription

When we give you the prescription, we will ask you to confirm some of your child’s details to make sure we are giving you the right medicines. We will explain each item to you, telling you how to give it to your child and how often. If we have any written information about your medicine, we will also give you that. Please feel free to ask us any questions before you leave.

Pharmacy opening hours and contact number

Outpatient Dispensary – 0151 28 2 4494

Opening hours 8.45am to 5pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Opening hours 9.30am to 5pm on Thursdays

Specials Team – 0151 282 4878

Homecare – 0151 293 3560

Oncology / Haematology Pharmacy Service

Pharmacy Inpatient Service

After your child has been admitted to the hospital you will be visited by a member of the pharmacy team as soon as possible after your admission.

They will:

Clarify your/your child’s medication history and allergies. With your permission, we may contact your GP, Community Pharmacy, or other relevant healthcare provider for further information.
Discuss any changes to medicines that have been made.
Assess the medicines you have brought in with you and supply any additional medicines.
Check the suitability of your medicines with your other medicines and health conditions.
Check your/your child’s medicines regularly during your admission and be available to answer questions or provide further information on side effects, medicine interactions and how to get the best out of your medicines.

Who can I speak to for more information about my medicines?

A useful resource to find out more about medicines can be found on the Medicines for Children website, If you have any further questions, please ask your nurse to arrange for a consultation with your ward pharmacist.

What should I expect at discharge?

The doctor will prepare a Discharge Summary which will include a list of the medicines you/your child is to take at home and a summary of what has happened during your admission. This may include relevant blood results, medication changes, follow-up arrangements and actions for your GP.

If your GP is based in Liverpool, they will receive an electronic copy of your discharge summary within 24 hours. If they are based outside of Liverpool, they should receive a copy of your discharge summary within one week. The Pharmacy or Nursing Team will provide you with information on how best to take and manage your medicines to ensure you get the most benefit from your treatment. You will be supplied with at least 14 days of any medicines you need, by which time your GP should be able to make the necessary arrangements for further supplies.