Part 5: When to refer

Refer patient to your pharmacist if your patient;

• is taking any medicines, especially if this condition has started since they began these medicines.

Refer if in your conversation you hear that your patient:

• shows signs of dehydration, such as excessive thirst, passing little amounts of dark urine, has ‘sunken’ eyes, lethargy etc.

• has had diarrhoea for more than a 2 or 3 days.

• is under 12 years of age or elderly – these people are at high risk of dehydration and their treatment options may be limited.

• reports seeing blood when they go to the toilet

• has a fever as well as diarrhoea

• has unexplained weight loss