Characteristics of patients requiring an emergency supply, the nature of that emergency and evidence to prove previous medicine supply (n=2485)
| Characteristics of emergency supply request | Number (%) |
|---|---|
| Access by month | |
| December 2014 (15–31) | 344 (13.8) |
| January 2015 (1–31) | 651 (29.2) |
| February 2015 (1–28) | 550 (22.1) |
| March 2015 (1–31) | 534 (21.5) |
| April 2015 (1–7) | 406 (16.3) |
| Access by day | |
| Sunday | 212 (8.5) |
| Monday | 119 (4.8) |
| Tuesday | 67 (2.7) |
| Wednesday | 54 (2.2) |
| Thursday | 78 (3.1) |
| Friday | 140 (5.6) |
| Saturday | 1815 (73.0) |
| Age of patient (years) | |
| <13 | 96 (3.9) |
| 13–19 | 69 (1.8) |
| 20–29 | 194 (7.8) |
| 30–39 | 213 (8.6) |
| 40–49 | 306 (12.3) |
| 50–59 | 437 (17.6) |
| 60–69 | 466 (18.8) |
| ≥70 | 704 (28.3) |
| Reason for emergency supply request | |
| Ran out of medicines | 1308 (81.6) |
| Prescription not ready at the GP surgery | 221 (13.8) |
| Away from home without medicine(s) | 69 (4.3) |
| GP surgery closed | 42 (2.6) |
| Other | 155 (9.7) |
| Evidence of repeat medicines | |
| Prescription request form | 393 (15.8) |
| Empty pack | 455 (18.3) |
| Patient medication record | 1464 (58.9) |
| GP letter | 15 (0.6) |
| Other | 158 (6.4) |
| Levy status | |
| Exempt | 2249 (90.5) |
| Paid prescription charge | 236 (9.5) |
| Additional pharmaceutical advice provided | |
| Effective medicines management | 1216 (48.9) |
| Medicines reconciliation | 1364 (54.9) |
| Prescription request process | 249 (10.0) |
| Other | 197 (7.9) |
| Additional pharmaceutical service provided | |
| Medicines Use Review | 52 (2.1) |
| Repeat dispensing consent | 48 (2.3) |
| None necessary | 2322 (93.4) |
| Other | 67 (2.7) |
GP, general practitioner.