LIFESTYLE
A day in the life
of Argyll's lead
pharmacist
WEST COAST REVIEW | 47
Sandra Melville is Argyll
and Bute Health
and Social Care Partnership's
lead pharmacist
based in Lorn and Islands
Hospital in Oban.
In 1998, after several years'
experience in community
pharmacy, Sandra saw the
opportunity to develop pharmacy
services in the newly
opened hospital in Oban.
She has built a comprehensive
service which includes
the pharmacist/nurse-led
chemotherapy unit.
Sandra's role as lead pharmacist
is an integral clinical
part of Oban HSCP healthcare
teams. On a daily basis,
she works with doctors,
nurses and other members
of multi-disciplinary teams
with her priority always being
patients.
She is a prescriber of
chemotherapy, which is benefi
cial to cancer patients,
allowing many to be treated
at the hospital rather than
travelling to Glasgow. She
also advises on a selection
of medicines, dosage and
administration.
Sandra gives professional
specialist advice and checks
the compatibility of medications
for inpatients, closely
monitoring potential side-effects
and interactions to en-
sure that patients prescribed
medications are effective.
She is a familiar and welcome
face during daily inpatient
ward rounds. She
checks patient drug charts,
and if a patient has been
newly admitted, she checks
their notes to see why they
have been admitted and to
gain more understanding
about the patient's medical
history and medication
requirements. This involves
close working relationships
with local medical practices
and other primary care pharmacies.
She assesses individual
patients to help them select
the most appropriate therapy,
taking account of factors
including their existing medication,
health history, lifestyle
and their capacity to understand
and follow suitable
treatment and care plans.
Sandra loves working and
living in Oban. She was attracted
to Oban by the wonderful
rural lifestyle and feels
fortunate to live in such a
strong spirited community
where people genuinely care
about each other.
Sandra has no problem balancing
work and the many
outdoor leisure activities she
enjoys. She is a keen sailor,
enjoys wild swimming and
skiing on the nearby Scottish
slopes.