A new pharmacy-led service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is helping hip and knee replacement patients return home sooner and feel more confident managing their recovery, with a statistically significant reduction in post-discharge healthcare encounters.
Robert Ormiston, 62, from Eaglesham, received a call from a member of the perioperative pharmacy team a few days before his knee replacement. They discussed his medicines, what recovery would likely feel like, and how symptoms could be managed at home. For Robert, that conversation made all the difference.
Personalised pre-surgery calls
The service, developed by NHSGGC's perioperative pharmacy team, sees specialist pharmacists contact patients around one to two weeks before surgery to discuss their medical history, answer questions, and agree a tailored plan for their post-operative medicines. Discharge prescriptions are often prepared before admission, helping ensure patients can return home as soon as they are ready.
“I was under no illusions there would be pain, but I knew what was happening,” Robert said. “The fact everything had been explained meant I was confident what I was feeling was normal. It gave me real peace of mind.”
Reducing anxiety and hospital readmissions
Kieran Fitzpatrick, Lead for the Perioperative Pharmacy Service at NHSGGC, said the conversations are about more than just deciding which medicines a patient will receive. “One of the things we sometimes overlook is just how important it is to help people understand what recovery is actually going to look like,” he said.
“Hip and knee replacement surgery is a procedure where recovery is often very predictable, but if people don’t know what’s normal they can understandably become worried about symptoms such as pain, sickness or constipation.”
The preparation helps tackle anxiety caused by the unknown. “We take time to talk through those things before surgery, answer questions and agree a plan with the patient. That helps people feel prepared, involved in their care and confident in managing their recovery when they get home.”
Wider benefits for patients and the health service
The team found a statistically significant reduction in post-discharge healthcare encounters, including GP visits, hospital readmissions, and NHS 24 contacts, while also helping to reduce the length of time patients spend in hospital following surgery.
“Patients tell us time and again that they value having these conversations before surgery,” Kieran said. “When people know what’s coming and understand how to use their medicines effectively, they’re much less anxious. They feel empowered to manage their own recovery and they know where they can seek help if they need it.”
Robert praised the practical benefits, including having his medicines ready when he was discharged. “As soon as I found out I was getting home, my medicines were there straight away,” he said. “I didn’t have to wait around for hours and I got home much more quickly.”
Several weeks on from his surgery, he is pleased with his progress and feeling increasingly confident. “I felt like throughout the process there was someone there for me,” he said. “For me it was a really positive experience. If it was your first operation, or if you were feeling anxious about it, I can see how important that reassurance would be.”
Janice Watt, Interim Director of Pharmacy at NHSGGC, said: “At the heart of good healthcare is ensuring people feel informed, involved and supported throughout their care – and in this instance, the results of that approach speak for themselves. Patients feel more reassured and supported, while we are seeing tangible benefits for the wider service.”
