Information for the public
Accurately listing your medicines
Accurately listing your medicines
It is important that health professionals have an up‑to‑date list of all the medicines you are taking. This is particularly important if you go into hospital, if you are in hospital and you move from 1 ward to another or to a different hospital, and when you are discharged from hospital. Making sure that your current prescription reflects what medicines you are taking is called medicines reconciliation and it is usually done by a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, doctor or nurse.
If you are transferred from 1 place of care to another, checking and listing your medicines should be done within 24 hours of your transfer (or sooner if necessary). If you are in hospital, it may need to be done more than once – for example, if you are transferred to a different ward, and when you are discharged. If you have been in hospital, your GP practice should check and update your list of medicines as soon as possible. This should be before you are given your next prescription or new supply of medicines, and no more than 1 week after the practice receives information about your discharge. If you agree, the list of medicines you are taking may be sent to a pharmacy of your choice.
You should be involved in the medicines reconciliation process, when appropriate and whenever possible. If you agree, or if there is some reason you can't be involved in this, your family or carers should be involved.