Madam, - Mary Raftery (Opinion, February 1st) reminded us of the results of a recent study regarding prescriptions written in the A&E Department of a Dublin hospital. However, she failed to point out the author's recommendation to improve patient safety - ie the appointment of a pharmacist.
Hospital pharmacists, as well as buying and dispensing medicines for patients, also review their prescriptions and provide medicine information. It is this prescription review and provision of information by the clinical pharmacist that prevents errors reaching the patient.
The appointment of clinical pharmacists in all our hospitals is part of the solution to "putting patient safety first". - Yours, etc,
VERONICA TREACY, President, Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland (HPAI), St James's Hospital, Dublin 8.