Who We Are
The NHS Dumfries and Galloway Pharmacy Homecare team is a small, specialised and highly dedicated service. The team plays a significant role in ensuring that specialist medicines and associated services are delivered safely and effectively to patients in their own homes, while hospital-based clinical teams retain full clinical responsibility and oversight.
Delivering medicines through homecare supports the continued use of high-quality treatments while ensuring the most cost-effective use of public resources. This approach also enables the service to expand the range and number of services provided.
What We Do
The Pharmacy Homecare Team coordinates and manages homecare medicine services across Dumfries and Galloway.
Many complex or high‑cost medicines are supplied through approved homecare providers. NHS Dumfries and Galloway currently utilise 7 different homecare providers.
The hospital pharmacy homecare team ensures:
- Prescribed medications are clinically appropriate
- Prescriptions and other associated documentation are processed correctly
- Providers deliver medicines to the patient’s home on time
- Cold‑chain requirements (e.g., refrigeration) are maintained
- Any complaints from patients are submitted to homecare providers for formal investigation
For treatments that need monitoring or administration support, homecare teams:
- Request nursing visits or training for self‑administration
- Ensure the correct equipment is requested (e.g., sharps bins, infusion pumps)
- Act as a point of contact if patients have questions or issues with supply
Homecare services must meet national frameworks and governance standards. The hospital pharmacy homecare team:
- Ensures services comply with NHS homecare governance requirements
- Monitors provider performance and safety incidents
- Conducts audits and risk assessments
- Ensures data is stored appropriately
Homecare medicines often involve:
- High-cost drugs
- Manufacturer rebates
- Special commissioning arrangements
The homecare team:
- Track spend
- Ensure accurate charging and reconciliation
- Manage contracts with homecare providers
- Avoid unnecessary waste or duplicate supply
- Processes invoices
They act as a central hub, coordinating between:
- Consultants and prescribers
- Specialist nurses
- Finance teams
- External homecare providers
- Patients and carers
This helps avoid errors and ensures smooth continuation of therapy.
Homecare services aim to:
- Reduce the number of hospital visits
- Support patients with long-term or complex conditions
- Provide care that fits around daily life
- Improve adherence and outcomes
How Homecare Supports Patient Adherence
Homecare services are specifically designed to remove the common barriers that cause patients to miss doses, delay treatment, or stop taking medicines altogether. Here’s how:
Many patients struggle with:
- Transport limitations
- Mobility issues
- Work or caring responsibilities
- Long distances to hospital
Home delivery means medication reaches the patient without requiring them to travel, which significantly improves the likelihood they stay on therapy consistently.
Adherence often drops when:
- Prescriptions aren’t processed in time
- Patients run out of stock
- Cold‑chain supplies become difficult to manage
Homecare supports adherence by:
- Scheduling routine deliveries
- Providing reminders
- Monitoring supply continuity
- Maintaining correct storage (e.g., refrigerated parcels)
This reduces “gaps” in therapy.
Some treatments are complex (injectables, pumps, infusions). Homecare providers can offer:
- Training on self-administration
- Nursing visits for specialist administration
- Guidance on side effects and safe handling
Patients who feel confident and supported are far more likely to adhere to treatment plans.
Homecare gives patients:
- More control over their treatment
- Flexibility in when and where medication is delivered
- Direct access to a support team for queries
Research consistently shows that when patients feel empowered, adherence improves.
People are more likely to adhere when treatment becomes easy, predictable, and stress‑free.
Homecare does this by:
- Making sure equipment and sharps bins are delivered
- Coordinating nurse visits
- Providing clear communication channels
- Offering tracking and delivery windows
This means fewer missed doses due to practical problems.
Many homecare therapies treat:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancers
- Metabolic or genetic conditions
- Hormonal disorders
In these cases, missing doses can lead to flare‑ups, hospital admissions, or reduced efficacy.
Homecare’s structured system helps keep treatment on track over months or years.
In Summary
Homecare supports adherence by making treatment:
- Easier (home delivery)
- Safer (governance and monitoring)
- More supported (education and nursing)
- More reliable (timely supply)
- More patient-centred (flexible, empowering)
Staff
The homecare team includes:
- Specialist Clinical Pharmacists
- Homecare Coordinator
- Homecare Administrator
Contact
Call 01387 241132 / email dg.homecare-services@nhs.scot (If emailing, please include your full name and date of birth).
The team provide a service Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (excluding bank holidays).
There is an option to leave a message, which will be checked and actioned at the first available opportunity.