1.
English Language in
Pharmacy
Brett Fortescue
Language Assistant IES Las Musas – 2022-23

2.
Communication and Language in the Pharmacy
 Between Pharmacy Staff and patients
 Between Pharmacy Staff and other Medical Professionals
 Between members of staff

3.
Communicating with Patients in English
 Discuss a patient’s symptoms for treatment or referral
 Obtain the relevant history to a patients illness
 Discuss the use of medications and medical devices in language the patient will
understand
 Describe possible side effects and expected treatment outcomes

4.
How to obtain information from a patient
 Ask open ended questions (WWHAM)
 (W) What symptoms are you experiencing?
 (H) How long have these been occurring?
 (W) What treatments have they already tried?
 (M) Do they take any other medication?
 (A) Do they suffer from any allergies?
 Always ask for consent and ensure the patient understand what is being discussed
and why.

5.
Common Symptoms and Illnesses
 Symptoms:
 Cough Heartburn Angina
 Headache Indigestion Diabetes
 Sore Throat Reflux High Blood Pressure
 Nasal Congestion Joint Pain Varicose veins
 Sneezing Fungal Infection Epilepsy
 Dry Eyes Dermatitis Asthma
 Shortness of Breath Eczema Obesity
 Ulcer Nicotine dependence Heart Disease
 Graze Acne Dementia
 Alzheimer's Disease Hayfever Cognitive impairment
 Wound/Cut Arthritis Chronic Lung Disease
 Fever

6.
Common Medication Directions
 Take until finished
 Take with or after food
 Take 30 minutes before or 2 hours after food ( to reduce the likelihood of interaction between food and medication which might affect absorption of
the drug)
 Warning: May cause Drowsiness and increase the effects of alcohol
 Take ONCE/TWICE/THREE/FOUR times per day
 Do not drink alcohol whilst taking this medicine
 Inject Subcutaneously ONCE per DAY/WEEK
 Do not crush or chew (Swallow Whole)
 Do not share medication
 Administer intravenously (directly into a vein)
 Apply topically (onto the skin)

7.
Communication with Other Health Professionals
 Pharmacy staff often an important role in co-ordinating patients medication
treatment between multiple services, General Practioners, Hospitals, Social
Workers, Physiotherapists etc.
 Refer patients for additional help/services where necessary.
 Reporting Adverse Effects to Government bodies and drug companies
 Recording vaccinations and other health interventions in a patients medical
records
 Discussing Formulations of specific products/medications with prescribers

8.
Language used in interactions with other Medical
Professionals
 Referral
 Interaction
 Side Effect
 Overdose
 Underdose
 Contraindication
 Compliance
 Prescription
 Dose
 Frequency
 Missed Dose
 Formulation
 Off License
 Adverse Event

9.
Communicating with Other Pharmacy Staff
 Organising the dispensing of
prescriptions
 Coordinating deliveries
 Forwarding written and verbal
correspondence from prescribers to
appropriate staff
 Coordinating changes to patient’s
medications

10.
Language between Pharmacy Staff
 Waiting time
 Ordering Stock
 Checking Expiry Dates
 Delivery
 Duration of treatment
 Extemporaneous Product
 Patient’s Weight
 Dispense

11.
Names of Medication Forms and Medical Devices
 Tablet Ointment Liquid
 Capsule Patch Oro-dispersable
 Inhaler Sub-Lingual Wound Dressing
 Suppository Nebuliser
 Pessary Turbohaler
 Injection Accuhaler
 Spacer Pre-filled Pen
 Cream Ampule

12.
How will English help in Pharmacy Environment
 Ensure non Spanish speaking patients can access health information and
medications
 Help non Spanish speaking patients take their medication safely
 Allow transfer of job roles where English is important (working overseas, working
in large drug companies, accessing information on the internet etc.)
 Help if you are travelling and need medical help in a foreign country.

13.
Colloquial pharmacy terms/slang
 Being sick means vomiting in the UK, however it can also mean the patient is feeling unwell in any other way when the expression is used in Australia
 Throw up : vomiting
 Having the runs: suffer from diarrhoea
 A puffer: an inhaler
 When a cut, graze or wound looks "angry" it means that it looks swollen, red or even infected.
 A mozzie bite : a mosquito bite
 A chemist in the UK means a pharmacist/pharmacy
 Put one's back out: to hurt one's back
 An ambo: an ambulance
 Felling bunged up : to feel congested
 To go cold turkey: to suddenly stop a drug or medication
 Chesty cough: productive cough
 A problem down below is a problem with one's genitalia , bladder...
 To feel iffy or be under the weather: to feel unwell

14.
Australia Vs United Kingdom
 Pharmacy in the UK and Australia often share how the medications are classified,
regulated and managed.
 Staff is also trained in a very similar way in both countries
 The role of the pharmacist is also equivalent in both countries for the most part.
 Company ownership varies. In the UK anyone can in fact own a pharmacy
regardless of their occupation as long, as they employ a pharmacist as a
superintendent who will ensure the business operates following the relevant
standards dictated by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
 There is a more relaxed approach when it comes to over the counter sales in
Australia.

15.
Questions?
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