Pharmacy Signposting Standard Operating Procedure

Description

1. Locate the Sign Posting file. All pharmacy staff should know the whereabouts and contents of the signposting folder supplied by the PCO or its successor organisation. 2. Signposting the patient. If a patient requests information or staff recognise that a patient needs services or advice from another health or social care provider, refer to the signposting booklet and advise the patient of the appropriate organisation and their contact details. If a range of healthcare providers are available in one category, e.g. local dentists, then no one provider should be recommended as being better than others by members of staff. Occasionally patients/customers need to be referred to other organisations such as medical charities, patient organisations and government helplines to provide financial aid or for medical services. Contact details for financial help can be found on leaflets and forms provided by the PCO. Signposting patients to medical charities and self-help groups can be achieved using the resources on signposting websites. 3. Make a record of the signposting. If a patient has been referred to an organisation and the patient is known to staff, then advise the pharmacist so that a record of the referral can be made on the hubnet.io clinical log or contact book if relevant. If it is necessary to contact another healthcare professional about the referral and a written record is needed, use headed notepaper or the compliments letter included below. Keep a copy if necessary for local area authority inspection evidence. Annually, at least 10 anonymised records of signposting carried out by the pharmacy should be made on the form provided. These records should include a date, reasons for signposting the customer/patient, the information provided and outcome (if known). These forms may be requested by the local area authority as evidence of compliance with this essential service