Maidstone Hospital Pharmacy – Tel: (01622) 224313, open Monday to Friday: 9am – 5.30pm, Saturdays: 9am – 4pm and Sundays: 10am – 4pm

Kent Oncology Centre Pharmacy (Maidstone) – Tel: (01622) 225022, open Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 5pm

Tunbridge Wells Hospital Pharmacy – Tel: (01892) 633281, open Monday to Friday: 9am – 5.30pm

The pharmacy at Tunbridge Wells Hospital is only open at the weekend for inpatient service and collection of prescriptions owing (Saturdays: 9am – 4pm and Sundays: 10am – 4pm)

Do you have any questions about the medicines prescribed for you at one of our hospitals, for example how and when should I take these tablets or can I take other medicines at the same time?

If so, please call the Medicines Helpline on telephone 01892 634216, Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. When you call you will be asked to give your name and your telephone number and to tell us at which hospital you were treated. It is helpful if you have your medicines and the copy of your prescription (if you have it) to hand when you call.

Please note: We can only answer your questions about medicines prescribed for you at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Maidstone Hospital. We cannot answer questions about medicines from your own doctor or about your illness in general. The helpline will be answered by a member of the pharmacy team. It will usually be possible to speak to a pharmacist straight away but, at very busy times, it may be necessary to give the details of your enquiry to a trained assistant who will arrange for a pharmacist to call you back.

If your medicines were changed while you were in hospital please return any medicines that you no longer need to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.

Your treatment is tailored to you. We need to see how you’re getting on and make sure nothing has changed since you last collected your medicines. Your safety and making sure you get the full benefit of your treatment is our priority.

To make sure your treatment is given safely, you will need regular tests; this will mainly include blood tests that must be taken before treatment is given. The dose of the medicines you receive will be based on body weight and other factors that can also influence the dose.

If you are collecting medicines on behalf of someone else make sure you know their date of birth and address.

The nurse or doctor at the outpatient clinic may need to know the names, strengths and doses of:

• Medicines prescribed by your GP including eye drops, inhalers,creams, patches etc
• Medicines that you buy ‘over the counter’
• Any complementary (e.g. herbal) medicines that you take
• You should also tell the doctor or nurse if you have ever had an allergic reaction, or serious side effects, from any medicines

At your outpatient appointment you may be given a prescription. Depending on the type of prescription you will be informed at the outpatient clinic if you should take it to your local community pharmacy for dispensing or to the hospital pharmacy.

If you normally pay for prescriptions from your GP you will also have to pay for medicines obtained from the hospital pharmacy. Many people are entitled to free prescriptions, (exempt from charges), and if this is the case, you will be asked to complete a form. A summary of the exemptions are listed below but if you would like more information please ask either at the hospital pharmacy or your community pharmacy. There is also more information available on the NHS Choices Website – NHS costs and exemptions.

Generally we will dispense one month’s treatment however we usually only issue a maximum of a seven-day supply for prescriptions from Accident & Emergency. If your treatment is to continue you may obtain further supplies from your GP. Where the medicine you have been prescribed is only available from the hospital, we will continue to supply it against a current prescription. We can only dispense hospital prescriptions, not those from your GP surgery.

You can get free NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you:

• are 60 or over
• are under 16
• are 16-18 and in full-time education
• are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
• have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
• have a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another person and have a valid MedEx
• hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
• are an NHS inpatient

You are also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partners) are named on, or are entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate or a valid HC2 certificate (full help with health costs), or you receive either:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit

During your stay in hospital a member of the pharmacy team will visit the ward each weekday. You may see technicians and pharmacists on the ward.

The technician, or pharmacist, will check through the medication that you have brought with you and ask you questions about your regular prescriptions. You will also be asked about any medicines which you buy over the counter,including complementary remedies and vitamins. Having an accurate and detailed list of the medicines you are taking before your hospital admission helps us to advise on changes to your medicines and to be alert for adverse effects or interactions.

The ward pharmacist will refer to the medication history and discuss any concerns with the doctors who are responsible for your care. The pharmacist will ‘screen’ the prescription chart (often referred to as a ‘drug chart’) making sure that doses and dosage times are appropriate and checking for any drug interactions.

If you are coming into hospital for treatment, please bring all your medicines with you. Whilst on the wards, they will be kept in a locked cabinet beside your bed. This enables us to continue your treatment without interruption. When you leave hospital your medicines will be returned to you and, if your own supply is running low, a further supply will be dispensed for you. Please bring your prescribed medicines in their original boxes or bottles. These have a label printed with your name and dosage instructions.

Don’t forget – medicines includes items such as inhalers, eye drops, patches and creams. 

It is easy to overlook these important treatments.

If you have cancer and aren’t already able to get free prescriptions, you can apply to get your prescriptions for free with a medical exemption certificate. This will be issued if you are receiving treatment relating to:

• Cancer
• The effects of cancer treatment

How do I get an exemption certificate?

When you have your first appointment with your nurse to discuss your treatment plan, they will complete a form called an FP92A with you. You can then send this to the NHS Prescription Exemption Applications team.

Do I need to bring the certificate with me when I collect my medicines?

If you are having treatment with us at the Kent Oncology Centre you will not need to show us your certificate. If you are collecting medicines from our main hospital pharmacies, a community pharmacy or chemist, then you will need to bring this with you.

How long does the certificate last?

The certificate lasts five years and can be renewed if the criteria is still met. You can check online if your certificate is still valid.

Does the certificate only cover medicines related to my cancer?

All cancer treatments and supportive medications are covered under the NHS and if you have a medical exemption certificate you will get all your prescriptions free, including medicines for other conditions.

If you are considered an overseas or private patient you will not be able to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

If you are given medicines to inject yourself at home you will be given a sharps container/bin to safely dispose of the used needles and syringes.

It is important these containers are properly disposed of and not put in normal household waste.

Our Oncology Pharmacy does not accept sharps bins for disposal but there are other ways you can dispose of them:

• At a local pharmacy that offers this service
• Collection through your local council
• If you have treatment on one of our day units, bring it with you when you come for treatment and the unit will take it from you.

The frequency and length of time between blood tests will depend on the treatment you are having. You should have your bloods taken no more than one week before you are due to collect your medicines.

Bloods can be booked online in through our blood test booking portal.

It can take a minimum of three hours to get results back from our lab, so if you wait until you are due to collect medicines there may be a delay.

For bank holidays, you can have your bloods taken a few days before.

You do not need to request a repeat or resupply of your regular medicines with us but it can be useful to let us know that you have had your blood test.

You can do this by visiting the Oncology Pharmacy or leaving us a voicemail message on 01622 225 022. Please state your name and date of birth if leaving a message on our voicemail.

There are currently over 80 different oral (by mouth) anti-cancer treatments and some of these can be very expensive.

Some medicines will only be ordered when a specific patient needs them, so depending what you are prescribed, you may need to wait a few days to begin treatment after you have been consented and had an information session with your clinician.

When your first treatment appointments are booked, the scheduling team will confirm the best way to contact you.

If you are collecting regular medicines from our dispensary, our coordinator will ask whether you would like to be notified by phone or text alert.

• We don’t offer a delivery service
• We don’t take FP10 prescriptions. If you are given one of these by your Oncology team you will need to take it a community pharmacy/chemist.
• We don’t do any over the counter sales
• We don’t issue copies of blood test results – these should be discussed with your nurse or clinician.

Before treatment

• Chemotherapy can be teratogenic, meaning it can harm an unborn baby. Make sure you are using adequate contraception during treatment. A barrier method is recommended as chemotherapy can affect hormonal contraceptives; you may also not be able to take these if you have certain types of cancer
• Some treatments may require you to take routine pregnancy tests throughout
• Chemotherapy can make you more susceptible to infections; talk to your doctor about vaccination eligibility
• Let your doctor know if you have any other health conditions (including allergies) or take any other medicines; some things may mean a certain treatment is unsuitable for you.

During treatment

• You must take your medicines exactly as prescribed otherwise your cancer may not respond to treatment
• Some anti-cancer medicines are very expensive; if you do not feel well enough to attend for an infusion let your nurse know as soon as possible
• If you are taking oral therapy, make sure it is stored securely and in the correct conditions.
• Keeping a diary of your side effects may be useful; this can help you plan around treatment.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before using over the counter medicines as they may interact with your treatment. Make sure that your GP and other healthcare providers know you are on chemotherapy if you are prescribed any new medicine.
• Some foods that can interact with some anti-cancer medicines. You will be advised of this by your nurse and the Pharmacy team but as a general rule, avoid the following when on active treatment (including juice versions):
  • Grapefruit
  • Seville oranges (this includes products like marmalade; check the ingredients)
  • Pomegranate
  • A number of supplements and herbal remedies

If in doubt, please ask your oncology pharmacist or pharmacy technician before taking any non-prescribed medicines or supplements.

• Look after your general health: stay hydrated, maintain a healthy diet, stop smoking if you smoke, avoid alcohol while on therapy, and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly to reduce the risk of picking up an infection.

Cycle: One full ‘round’ of treatment (including the time until your next cycle begins, e.g. 21 or 28 days).

• Regimen: the name of your treatment plan and what it includes, i.e. which medicines you will be taking and when.

• Line of treatment: the number of regimens you have been treated with.
• Prophylaxis: medicines such as antibiotics (e.g. co-trimoxazole) to help prevent you from getting an infection during treatment.
• Chemo brain: chemotherapy can make you feel confused or ‘spaced out’. This should resolve after treatment.
• Creatinine clearance: calculation of your kidney function based on a chemical in your blood. This will be regularly checked to make sure the dose of any medicine is right for you.
• Neutropenia: when your level of neutrophils (one type of white blood cells) is low, making it harder for your body to fight infection. This can happen as a result of some treatments and can mean you may need to have a short break from treatment.