Pharmacy

The role of the pharmacy department is to provide safe, effective and appropriate medicinal products to patients.

We aim to provide as prompt a turnaround as possible of prescriptions, whilst maintaining our highest standards for patient safety.

All patients treated under the NHS must pay prescription charges unless they are exempt. Details of exemptions will be on the back of your prescription and will need to be completed by you, or your representative before handing in your prescription. Please note proof of exemption (e.g. your exemption certificate card) will need to be seen by pharmacy at each occasion.

Our services include:

· Outpatients dispensary in partnership with SWFT Clinical Services Ltd
· Inpatient dispensary
· Clinical trials
· Ward based pharmacy services
· Medicines information services
· Pharmacy aseptic laboratory
· Quality control laboratory
· Pharmaceutical stores
· Homecare prescription service
· Training, including Preregistration Pharmacists and Student Technicians

The Pharmacy Department has dispensaries on all sites of the Trust.

Dispense and delivery

We are now offering a Dispense and Delivery service that will give you a choice for where and how you can collect your medicine if you are an outpatient.

When you hand in your prescription at our onsite Outpatients Pharmacy, you will be asked to choose a pharmacy near your home. We can deliver your medication directly to your chosen local pharmacy, ready for collection at your convenience.

Please allow 48 hours after your appointment for your prescription to arrive at your chosen branch. It will be held at your chosen branch for seven days.

If you have any queries about your dispensed medication, please call 02476 602029.

For more information, please read the Outpatient prescriptions Dispense and Delivery service guide.

Collecting your prescription from University Hospital

We have made it easier if you are collecting your prescription while visiting University Hospital.

We have live screens situated in our Outpatients department and opposite Starbucks Restaurant on the ground floor that will update when your prescription is ready for collection.

Coming to hospital as an inpatient
During your stay your ward pharmacy team will work in partnership with you and the other clinicians to make sure you are getting the best from your medicines.

When you first arrive, the team have to check that the list of medicines you take is absolutely correct. You may have already told other ward staff what you take but thoroughly checking is important for your safety. We respect your right to be part of the process in deciding your medication so please feel free to ask any questions about your medicines or ask to speak to your pharmacist. We value openness and are happy to discuss any of your concerns about medication.

Your pharmacist may suggest changes in the medicines you are taking, or the timing of doses with your medical team. This is to improve effectiveness or reduce unwanted side effects.

When you are ready to leave the team will work on your medicines to take home. The team may wish to speak to you about continuing to use your medicines at home. Some of the medicines you were taken may have been stopped or had doses changed or you may have new medicines or a short course to complete. If you have any questions about them, or the best way to take them, feel free to ask.

Coming to hospital as an outpatient

Our outpatient dispensing service is provided by SWFT Clinical Services Ltd in a way you will be familiar with from your community pharmacy service. They will aim to dispense any new medicine from your consultation safely and quickly. It is important that you take your new medicines properly so if you have any questions or are unsure about how or when you take them, ask to speak to a pharmacist.

Outpatient Dispensary is located in the atrium of the main entrance at University Hospital, Coventry and in Withybrook Wing at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby.

University Hospital opening times: Monday-Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm

Hospital of St Cross opening times: Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm.

For outpatient prescription queries at University Hospital, Coventry, phone: 02476 602029.

For outpatient prescription queries at Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, phone: 01788 579674.

Patients and members of the public can email SWFTCS.patientqueries@uhcw.nhs.uk for non-urgent queries.

Patients and members of the public can find out more about their medicines by speaking to their GP, pharmacist or by clicking here.

Please visit the Did We Get it Right? page.

Your local pharmacy can now help treat a wide range of minor conditions, saving you a trip to the GP. To find your local pharmacy, click here.

All NICE recommended drugs are available to prescribers as a treatment option and are being included in local protocols where they are the locally preferred option.

The Excel spreadsheets, accessed below, shows the formulary status of all medicines including a separate list of those medicines that have been reviewed as part of a NICE Technology Appraisal (TAG).

NICE drugs formulary status (Excel Spreadsheet)

Non-NICE drugs formulary status (Excel Spreadsheet)

Last updated 30 June 2026