Great Expectations

Allow me to set the scene. Your 8 weeks into your pre-reg and the MI phone rings. You’ve never answered a query before, but you’ve heard other people deal with them, and everyone expects you to do your share of phone answering. You pick up the receiver. Hold it to your ear. “Hello Pharmacy Medicines Information”.

She wanted to know about H.Pylorri eradication regimes and if we use Amoxicillin in this trust.

What luck! You’ve seen the BNF. You studied H.Pylorri. You know that it’s a bacteria which causes gastric ulceration. You know that it needs triple therapy : 2 antibiotics and an acid suppressant. You even know that Amoxicillin, Metronidazole and Omeprazole make up the cheapest regime. Of course that’s the one you’d use. Then, just as you’re about to reply: BOOM.

My mind went completely blank. I had no concept of who I was or what I was doing. H.Pylorri - whats that? Amoxicillin – that’s a funny word. How strange.

Thankfully, I had enough wit to repeat the question aloud and the two very competent pharmacists sat with me, diligently answered the question as I simply sat, blank faced, opening and closing my mouth like a fish down the telephone.

On Evaluation: that did not go well.

I’ve since answered other MI queries, and I think the I’ve got it cracked, so here's some advice for whoever needs it. Write it down. Write it down and then look at the question in black and white. It makes it so much clearer and logical. Make sure you have all the info you need to do some research, then ask for a contact number and name so you can ring whoever it is back.  Prepare your answer, write this down too and then ring back. Et voila!