Information about medication
Find useful information about medicines and how various drugs work, including any known possible side effects, and where to go for further information.
The following organisations’ websites provide useful information:
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to commissioners of health services and healthcare professionals, to improve health and social care. See the NICE website.
Choice and medication
This website offers people information about medications used within mental health settings, to help people make informed decisions about medication. It also has information on medication groups, advice on many mental health conditions, tables comparing the main treatments used, and user-friendly guidance on how the drugs are thought to work and on their common side-effects.
The electronic medicines compendium
Run by the pharmaceutical industry, the electronic medicines compendium website has information leaflets that are found in medication packs. It summarises the product and its characteristics produced by the pharmaceutical company. Our pharmacy team, ward and community teams also have a range of printed leaflets about medicines which you can ask for. Please note, we cannot take responsibility for information on any external website.
What to know about medicines
If you need to come in to one of our hospitals for treatment and care, it’s important you bring with you any prescribed medicines you are currently taking. This is to ensure our staff know exactly what medicines you are taking and it will also help to avoid any delays in you receiving your medicines.
If you have any questions about your medicines, it is usually best to discuss them with the pharmacist who supplied them to you. If you use any of our services, you should initially contact your key-worker/community psychiatric nurse who will be able to help and if needed will put you in touch with one of our pharmacists for further information or advice.
If you or someone you are caring for experiences a side effect to a medicine, you can report it to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) by visiting the GOV.UK website.
Medicines out of hours
If you run out of prescription medicines, you may be able to get an emergency supply without a prescription from a community pharmacist or supermarket pharmacy.
If a pharmacy can’t help, you may be able to get a prescription from a GP out-of-hours service. You can also go to an NHS walk-in centre.
If you are not certain what to do or who to contact, you can telephone the NHS on 111 who will be able to provide further advice.
Our pharmacy services
Pharmacists are trained experts in the use of medicines. They can give advice on the safe use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Our pharmacists provide accurate, independent information and education about medicines to staff, service users and carers. They use their specialist knowledge to dispense drugs and advise people about the medication they have been prescribed. They work closely with health care professionals to develop a plan of appropriate medication required. Our dedicated pharmacists also provide support to ensure our resources are used effectively.
Our pharmacy services are provided by pharmacy departments of Bradford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.
We have an in-house pharmacy with specialist pharmacists based at Lynfield Mount Hospital covering the Bradford area, whilst the Keighley area is covered by staff based within Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.
Pharmacy opening times
Pharmacy department Lynfield Mount Hospital
- Telephone: 01274 363 230
- Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.15pm
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 9.30 am – 1.30 pm (main pharmacy Bradford Royal Infirmary telephone: 01274 364237)
- Staff based at Lynfield Mount Hospital have access to on call pharmacy services provided by Bradford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust outside of these hours.
Pharmacy department Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
- Telephone: 01535 652 511
- Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm
- Staff based at Airedale Centre for Mental Health have access to the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust on call pharmacy services outside of these hours.
Contact the pharmacy
- Jaspreet Sohal – Chief Pharmacist
- Telephone: 01274 363177
- Email: jaspreet.sohal@bdct.nhs.uk
Psychotropic drug forumulary
This drug formulary has been developed jointly between the pharmacists and doctors in the Trust, with input from Primary Care. It has been developed to promote quality, cost-effective prescribing both in the primary and secondary care sectors. The formulary will be regularly reviewed and enhanced to include links to local and national guidelines.