If you have any questions about medicines you have received from us, you can contact our confidential Patient Medicines Helpline.
One of our specially trained and experienced Pharmacists or Pharmacy Technicians will answer your call.
We are happy to take questions from a relative or carer on your behalf - we will ask if they have your consent to call us.
We can only answer questions that relate to medicines you have received from our hospitals.
Questions you may want to ask:
- How should I take a newly started medicine?
- Can I take other medicines at the same time?
- Do certain foods affect my medicine/s?
- Could a new symptom be a side effect of a medicine?
Before calling our Patient Medicines Helpline, please try to have all your regular medicines with you, as well as any over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbal products you may be taking. This will help us provide safe advice and the most appropriate answers to your questions.
For questions about the supply of a particular medicine, please call the pharmacy where you expect to collect the medication.
Pharmacy and Medicines Management
Contact us
Our Patient Medicines Helpline is for Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) patients only, and is not an NHS-wide general service.
If you are not an OUH patient, then please contact your local hospital / GP / Community Pharmacy for advice.
We are unable to take questions from patients who have not been treated at our hospitals.
All calls are handled confidentially in line with NHS privacy policies.
Helpline: 01865 228906
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Between 1.00pm and 2.00pm calls are diverted to a voicemail service.
Email: medicines.information@ouh.nhs.uk
Enquiries on behalf of others
A family member or carer can call about another person's medication. We will ask you to confirm that you have the patient's consent.
Pain relief
Take your pain relief medication as prescribed on your discharge letter. You can buy paracetamol cheaply from supermarkets and pharmacies. If feel you need stronger pain relief medication, please contact your GP, who may prescribe this if appropriate.
New medication
If your medication changed, or you started taking new medication during your hospital stay, we will supply at least two weeks' worth of medication. Your GP can continue supplying many medications (see 'GP to continue - Yes' on your discharge letter, an electronic copy of which is sent to your GP).
Certain specialist medicines can only be prescribed by hospital doctors. If this is the case, we will let you know how to get supplies via one of our hospital dispensaries.
Waiting times for hospital dispensaries
The Patient Medicines Helpline cannot access pharmacy dispensing systems - please call the pharmacy where you expect to collect the medication.
Pharmacy and Medicines Management
Deliveries after discharge
If you are waiting for medication due to be delivered after your discharge from hospital, contact the ward for advice via Switchboard: 0300 304 7777 or directly – you can find ward contact details via:
Homecare
For queries about deliveries by a homecare provider, please contact your specialist team.
Adult gastroenterology patients
Email: IBD.homecare@ouh.nhs.uk
Tel: 01865 221523
Adult rheumatology patients
Email: rheumatologyadviceline@ouh.nhs.uk
Clinic appointment / blood test / investigation enquiries
We cannot answer these queries. Please contact the relevant service via the number on your appointment letter.
NHS Discharge Medicines Service
This toolkit supports cross-sector implementation of the NHS Discharge Medicines Service as an essential service in all NHS Community Pharmacies in England.
NHS Discharge Medicines Service
Patient feedback
After you contact the Patient Medicines Helpline, we may text you a link to a survey about our service. The survey should take under five minutes to complete, and you do not have to take part if you prefer not to.
We would also like to know what happened after you spoke to us.
All your responses will be confidential, and will help us to improve the service we offer.
If you have any questions about taking part, please contact us.
Tel: 01865 228906
We are grateful for your time.
