The National Patient Safety Agency
(NPSA) has issued an alert for all healthcare
organisations in the NHS where lithium therapy is initiated,
prescribed, dispensed or monitored.
POMH-UK has been working in
collaboration with NPSA and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA)
to develop a patient
lithium pack, consisting of patient
information booklet, lithium alert card and record
book for tracking blood test results. You can find
more information about these here, as well as links to download
electronic copies for free.
How to order printed copies:
Printed
supplies of the lithium pack are available from the current NHS
Non-secure Contract held by 3M. Orders should be placed
by:
If you have access to the electronic
ordering system 'Astroweb', you can place your orders this way.
This contract is managed by Kay Ellermeyer, National Programme
Manager, NHS Non-Secure Forms on tel 01244 650458 or email
kay.ellermeyer@wcheshirepct.nhs.uk
.
The lithium pack includes a variety of useful tools for people
prescribed lithium. Click the images to be linked to
the NPSA's National Reporting and Learning website, where
downloads are available at the bottom of the page.
Lithium
patient information booklet: Lithium Therapy - Important
information for patients
(Also
available in Welsh)
"Lithium is a medicine which can work
well for people with some mental health problems. However,
for the medicine to work properly and safely, people taking it need
to take special care".
This handy A5 sized booklet provides reliable, user friendly
information for anyone prescribed lithium.
The topics covered include:
- What is lithium
and what is it used for?
- Checks needed
before you start to take lithium,
- How to take
lithium,
- Blood tests after
starting to take lithium,
- What side effects
can lithium cause?
- What happens if
the level of lithium in my blood is too high?
- What can make the
level of lithium in my blood get too high?
Lithium record book
People
prescribed lithium need to have regular tests to measure the level
of lithium in their blood, and the way their kidneys and thyroid
are working.
This
pocket size record book contains information that will also be held
in your patient record. You can use it to:
- Remind you when
your next lithium blood level test is due,
- Keep a record of
your health checks,
- Keep a record of
your lithium blood levels,
- Monior your health
and lithium therapy.
Lithium
Alert Card
You should fill in
this card and carry it with you all the time. The alert card
it credit card size, so you can easily keep in in your wallet or
purse.
Show this card when
you:
- Buy a new medicine
or suppliment over-the-counter
- Visit your
dentist or healthcare professional
- Are admitted to
hospital
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NPSA Patient
Safety Alert - Safer Lithium Therapy
The NPSA Patient
Safety Alert - Safer Lithium Therapy (ref 0921) was issued on 1st
December 2009. This alert details actions to be taken by all
healthcare
organisations in the NHS where lithium therapy is initiated,
prescribed, dispensed and monitored.
<-- Click the
document on the left to view the
alert.
--> Click the
document on the right to view the
supporting information.
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