During working hours for contacts at the receiving hospital, the preference would be the use of pre labelled patient packs or, if these are not available, a prescription via the hospital pharmacy. PHPU will contact the ward medical staff and ask them to prescribe appropriate chemoprophylaxis for confirmed contacts at patient’s bedside. Full documentation should be maintained. Orion cannot be used for non-admitted patients and a paper prescription stating “meningitis prophylaxis for contact” should be used. Paper prescription pads, if not available on the ward, can be issued from pharmacy. Out of hours, the preference would be the use of pre-labelled patient packs available via acute site emergency stock locations, as shown in table 1. If English is not the patient’s first language, interpretation facilities are available.
During working hours for contacts in the community, the preference is for the prescription to be provided by the general medical practice and dispensed by a community pharmacy. PHPU will ask the contact’s GP to arrange a prescription, usually for the next day. If out of hours, supply would be made by the Primary Care Emergency Centres (PCEC). If there are any issues, such as the contact not being registered with a GP, PHPU can also issue a prescription.
The options for supply of these prescriptions are as follows. The choice depends on whether the index case has been admitted, time of admission and convenience for affected individuals.
- Hospital prescription dispensed by hospital pharmacy or utilising pre-labelled patient packs held in hospital A&E departments, selected wards or emergency cupboards (Table 1)
- Primary Care Emergency Centres (PCECs).
- Community pharmacy supply (via GP or HBP prescriptions – the latter should be reserved for exceptional circumstances).
Notes: Patient pre packs (1x 500mg ciprofloxacin) are held in the NHS GGC acute hospitals (A&E, selected wards and emergency cupboards) as shown in Table 1.
2. The PCECs will each hold a small stock – enough for six courses of treatment including one course of ciprofloxacin suspension. The hours of opening vary by locality and opening hours can be confirmed by phoning the HUB on 0141 636 8412. Further information on the locations can be found at here. The centres include:
- Easterhouse Health Centre (Currently closed- contact HUB for up to date information)
- Gartnavel General Hospital (Currently closed- contact HUB for up to date information)
- Inverclyde Royal Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow (Currently closed- contact HUB for up to date
information)
- Royal Alexandra Hospital
- Stobhill Hospital (New)
- Victoria Hospital (New)
3. Some community pharmacies have extended hours of opening - this can be checked via the NHS Inform Service Directory . It is advisable to phone the pharmacy to confirm stocks are available especially if either rifampicin or ciprofloxacin suspension is required.
4. Hospital pharmacies hold stock of ciprofloxacin if large numbers of contacts required treatment. Pharmacy Services has agreed to the principle that the hospital pharmacist should respond to an urgent call out of hours to supply ciprofloxacin stock, in exceptional circumstances.
Please note: For patients unable to swallow tablets, the appropriate number of tablets can be dispersed in water but avoid milk/yoghurt or mineral- fortified drinks.
Not all community pharmacies routinely stock rifampicin or ciprofloxacin suspension. It is advisable to phone the pharmacy to confirm stocks are available. Supply from hospital would be via the hospital pharmacy (in hours) or on call pharmacist (out of hours).
