MEDICATION is meant to help people in times of illness but, if used incorrectly, medication can have the opposite effect.
“Up to 30 per cent of hospital admissions, of people older than 75 years of age, are medication related and up to three-quarters are potentially preventable,” Warwick Hospital pharmacist Teghan Giarola said.
“Medicines are associated with a higher incidence of errors and adverse events than other healthcare interventions.”
This is why Miss Giarola will offer free advice to the public during Medication Safety Week from August 11-15.
Each day from 1pm to 2pm, Miss Giarola will be stationed in the Warwick Hospital’s emergency waiting room to give members of the public the opportunity to discuss any concerns they have about their medications.
Information pamphlets will also be available from a display.
“The emphasis will be on the importance of medication safety,” Miss Giarola said.
“If people have any concerns or questions about their medication, it is important they ask a medical professional.”
It is the first time the Warwick Hospital has hosted the question-and-answer sessions during Medication Safety Week.
Tips to improve medication safety
• Know exactly what medications and how much you are taking. Ask your community
pharmacist or hospital pharmacist to print you out a list of your medications. Make sure
you update this list when you change/introduce new medications.
• Check the expiry date. Expired medication decreases in effectiveness.
• Know how much medicine to give a child. Dosages for children and adults are different.
Ask your pharmacist to explain the dosage of medication for children
• Talk to your pharmacist. They offer free advice on everything medication-related.