Table 1 SWOT analysis

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

1. Chief pharmacist and Internal Medicine consultant supporting the project.

1. Ward pharmacy service offered only Monday to Friday with no weekend cover.

2. Decrease in medication errors, ADRs and falls enhances patient safety.

2. Night on call ward pharmacy service not provided.

3. Potential for reduction in length of hospital stay and related savings.

3. Potential concerns of doctors and nurses with regard to clinical training of the pharmacist.

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

1. Opportunity for the trust to introduce ward clinical pharmacy.

1. Due to the current global financial crisis, it may be difficult to find resources to expand the service in the short term.

2. The trust is a teaching hospital and has therefore the potential for setting up post graduate clinical pharmacy programmes to train staff.