FAQ
Which service is right for my business?
If you are an Independent Contractor, wishing to work across the rail sector, you will be responsible for organising your own health and safety assessments, such as medicals and medication checking. Chemist On Call in association with Healthcare Connections can offer you a unique “Pay As You Go Service”, whereby you pay in advance for a medication check that you can conduct immediately or at any time in the future when you are taking medication – whether prescription, over-the-counter, herbal or internet purchased. This service is limited to office hours only 8.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
For small organisations, with up to 25 employees, the “Inclusive Call Package” might be more suitable. This is where you pre-pay for either 10, 15 or 20 calls or website checks. This service is available 24 hours.
For medium and large organisations, the “Retainer and Calls Package” is most cost effective. Your business is likely to have more employees requiring 24 hour medication advice. To encourage proper use of the service, we offer free single medication checks on the website, providing instant access to an approved pharmacist outcome. All other medication checks will be responded to with a pharmacist outcome in less than one hour and are the most competitively priced in the industry.
Why should I check my medication?
Working within a safety critical environment means there are many potential hazards to you, your colleagues and/or the general public or travelling passenger. It is essential that you remain free from potential side effects of medication, such as drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness or more dramatic effects of injections, such as anaphylactic shock. When you check your medication with Chemist On Call, you will not only get the most up-to-date and timely outcome for your safety, but also appropriate health and wellbeing information to ensure you recover faster and reduce your medication wherever possible.
Examples include:
Analgesia (pain relief) combined with decongestant and an anti-inflammatory medication.
This might include two or more paracetamol products that would risk overdose and will definitely begin the process of damaging your liver, and/or two codeine ingredients that in excess will be deemed a breach of normal medical use and come under the banned substances category of “opiods”.
What if my job role is restricted?
About 40% of all medication checked tends to have an associated restriction, but in the majority of cases this does not restrict the role, just requires you to be accompanied whilst performing your role. However, occasionally, individuals work alone, thus a restriction prevents them from continuing to work alone.
Several of our customers are train operating companies, electrical workers or HGV drivers, thus train or HGV drivers who are taking restricted medication will not be able to drive and those working at height will be restricted to ground duties.
In all cases your line manager should be able to assist with reassigning your duties or informing a colleague that you need to be accompanied for the duration of your medication and for a period of either 12, 24 or 48 hours after the last dose of the medication.
When can I check my medication?
Chemist On Call is the only truly 24/7, 365 days a year service and by dialling 08456 773001 anytime you will reach one of our qualified healthcare co-ordinators or speak directly to one of our team of pharmacists.
If you would prefer to perform the medication check online, you can now do this for both single and multi-medications. Many single medications will be answered automatically and instantly by our system, whereas all multi-medications, unusual medications or mis-spelt medications will be checked by our pharmacists and you will receive a call back confirming the outcome within one hour as well as a fax or email.
I’ve stopped taking my medication, should I report this?
All medication checks have individual outcomes per medication taken, with applicable restriction, plus an overall outcome for taking all medication in combination.
If you have stopped a medication that had “resume normal duties” but are still on medication “with restricted or accompanied duties” then the worse case outcome remains. You do not need to tell Chemist On Call that you have stopped a medication.
If you have stopped a medication that had “restricted or accompanied duties” but are still on medication “resume normal duties” then the less restrictive outcome remains. Again you do not need to tell Chemist On Call that you have stopped a medication.
If your medication changes dose or brand (with possibly different active ingredients) or you have additional medication you must always report these.
Why hasn't my emailed outcome arrived in my inbox?
All medication outcomes will be either emailed or faxed. If you have chosen to receive an email, please ensure that you check your junk mail for an email from noreply@chemist-on-call.com, accept it and move to your inbox. We are instructing all our customer’s IT departments to ensure that this email address is automatically accepted into your inbox, however, we anticipate a slight delay in all customers achieving this.
If you still can't locate the email please call 08456 773001 during office hours (8:00 - 5:00) and we will resend by email, fax or post to your preferred address.
Why has the mobile phone number gone from the login page?
For the last 2 ½ years Chemist On Call has been promoting a new number 08456 773001 which ensures more lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year for our customers. The old number remained in place and every caller was advised of the new number. The old number is not going to be used anymore, however it is on a redirect service for the next 5 months. On January 1, 2011 we will no longer use the previous mobile phone number.
Is my data confidential?
Your data is entered into a secure system and the email or fax is sent to either your nominated line manager or supervisor and placed on your personnel file. If your line manager or supervisor calls/web checks this is with your permission. The outcome of the medication is shared with only those that need to know, e.g. a close colleague if you are on accompanied duties. Your condition is not discussed with your line manager unless you ask us to, however, where the condition requires an OHP review, we will highlight which medication is requiring this review.
Please see our Security and Privacy statement at the bottom of our website.
Problems logging in?
If you are experiencing any problems with submitting an online medication check, please call 08456 773001 and explain the situation, giving your name so that your partially completed medication check can be retrieved and proceeded with over the phone.
For any queries with log in or system failure please call 08456 773001.
