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During your hospital visit or stay

You may have questions about your medicines, such as:

  • whether any medicines have been started, stopped or changed
  • how and when to take your medicines
  • what side effects to look out for
  • whether your medicines may interact with each other
  • any concerns about the ingredients or source of your medicine

The doctor or pharmacist looking after you will talk to you about your medicines. 
If you have not seen a pharmacist and would like to speak to one, please tell a nurse. They can ask a pharmacist to see you.

Taking medicines home with you

Your medical team will tell you if you need to keep taking medicines after you leave hospital. If you need any new medicines, we will give these to you before you go home.

When your medical team decides you are well enough to go home, they need to complete your discharge letter. This includes details of your medicines. The pharmacy team will then prepare any medicines you need to take home.

We know waiting can be frustrating. The pharmacy team will get your medicines ready as soon as they can. At busy times, this may take longer because the team also supplies medicines for patients across the hospital and other local sites.

Before you go home

  • Ask what medicines have been started, stopped or changed.
  • Check how and when to take each medicine.
  • Ask how long you need to take each medicine for.
  • Check whether you need any follow-up blood tests or monitoring.
  • Ask what side effects to look out for and what to do if they happen.
  • Make sure you know who to contact if you have questions after you leave hospital.
  • Check that you have enough medicine until your GP or community pharmacy can arrange your next supply.

If you come into hospital again

If you come into hospital again, please bring any medicines you take with you. This helps us make sure you get the right medicines as quickly as possible.

After you leave hospital

We can answer questions about medicines that were started, stopped or changed by the hospital. This includes medicines changed during a hospital stay or after an outpatient appointment.
For these questions, please call the Pharmacy Medicines Helpline: 0300 613 6751, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If you have questions about the supply of medicines after leaving hospital, please call the dispensary:

For general repeat prescription questions, please contact your GP or community pharmacy.
If you feel very unwell, think you are having a serious side effect, or need urgent medical advice, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

For more information about medicines, visit www.nhs.uk

Discharge Medicines Service

Community pharmacists can give advice and answer questions about your medicines.

The hospital pharmacy team may refer you to the Discharge Medicines Service. This is a free NHS service from your local community pharmacy. It helps you understand your medicines after you leave hospital and supports you to use them safely and correctly.

We will talk to you about this if the service is suitable for you. We will ask for your consent before making a referral.

Please help reduce waste by only ordering the medicines you need.

Please return any unused medicines to your community pharmacy. They will dispose of them safely.

Contact us

If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Pharmacy service.

About this information

Service:
Pharmacy

Reference:
S/017

Approval date:
23 July 2026

Review date:
1 July 2029

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Important note 

This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.