pharmacists

[michelle]

I work in a pharmacy and the main dispensers here are pretty good but there is one member of staff in particular who makes endless mistakes,and quite bad ones at that, as that persons colleague, do i say something to them or not? The pharmacist who currently works here has handed his notice in, and i think it's because of the dispensing errors,can anybody else relate to this?

[Tony Schofield]

I have just terminated the training of a "technician" who is nearly finished the NVQ3 technician's course due to an unacceptable error rate.

She is of course now on the sick citing stress at work and I am bracing myself for a constructive dismissal claim due to loss of status.

I believe a pharmacist in your position has a duty to the public to take up the error rate with the employer and if nothing is done to leave the employ of the company.

There is much that can be done in terms of supporting the staff member to improve performance and if it isn't you owe it to yourself to seek employment with a more responsible employer. If you do nothing you have put the public at risk and must face up to that if a catastrophe happens.

[michelle]

i'm not actually a pharmacist,i'm just a dispensing assistant doing NVQ3,but it worries me that we won't be able to keep pharmacists working here because of this problem. The pharmacist we have at the moment is lovely and i am gutted he's leaving and it's mainly because of the errors. Has anybody else had this problem and if you have, any advice?

[Web Ferret]

I work in a pharmacy and the main dispensers here are pretty good but there is one member of staff in particular who makes endless mistakes,and quite bad ones at that, as that persons colleague, do i say something to them or not? The pharmacist who currently works here has handed his notice in, and i think it's because of the dispensing errors,can anybody else relate to this?

Its not really your place to say anything - Is there an area manager, manager or if all else fails the superintendent. Pharmacists are responsible if a member of staff is not up to the mark. Who is signing off the NVQ modules - Is there an assessor?
Do you do a near miss log as that should show up any issues?

I have stopped someone dispensing who did not know what she was doing - Its my responsibility after all.

Oh and your not "just a dispensing assistant" - don't put yourself down.

[Zoggite]

I'd be surprised if one staff member's errors really were enough to push a pharmacist into resigning from his position... There's probably a lot more to it than your colleague's repeated errors: pressure from management to achieve targets (MURs, script figures, etc...); lack of rewards (financial or otherwise), working atmosphere, travelling distance, lack of working hours flexibility, career options,...
I agree with Web Ferret: you shouldn't say anything to your colleague, it's not your place, and it would only poison the atmosphere...

[Jeff]

She is of course now on the sick citing stress at work and I am bracing myself for a constructive dismissal claim due to loss of status.

The joys of ownership - I've been marginally involved in two - the first when the idea of unfair dismissal was new - and it was cheaper to pay up than to continue to employ the member of staff - and the other more recently when corporate governance decreed dismissal - but it was a waste of a potentially valuable member of staff.

On members of staff making errors - I try to be open about it - we all make errors and everyone checks everyone else. As we learn which errors we make we work to our strengths when busy and concentrate on our weaknesses when slack.

I also note errors/near misses on the patients notes - in order to avoid repetition. e.g. the patient who has loperamide TABLETS because they can't absorb the gelatine. (I also tend to ask the surgery to highlight oddball stuff like that on scripts and also dose/quantity changes to avoid errors induced from just repeating old labels) - it's very much a team approach and the local surgery is part of the team.

Jeff

[Tony Schofield]

The grievance process is now under way.

I have asked the NPA if they will support my taking the lady off the course. I haven't got an answer yet which is very worrying. The course specifies two bits. The first is "academic" and the second is documenting that the individual competencies have been achieved. I don't see anywhere where an acceptable standard of overall work is required. The competencies are achieved in isolation.

If a pre-reg is not deemed to be professionally responsible by a pre-reg tutor, the tutor can refuse to sign the student off. That doesn't seem to be the case here. In principle this lady could continue and achieve those competencies left to become a technician and register with the RPSGB. She could then obtain work anywhere despite my believing she is a danger to the public.

I have taken this up with the RPSGB and I will keep you informed.

[michelle]

thanx for the advice guys, it has helped

[Ijenks]

Its not really your place to say anything - Is there an area manager, manager or if all else fails the superintendent.

Oh and your not "just a dispensing assistant" - don't put yourself down.

I can't agree more with that comment Web Ferret - on all counts. The Super. really should be informed of what is happening in their branches.

And, for what it is worth, no one is "Just a dispensing assistant". There are many that I have worked with that I would rather have in my dispensary team than ANY Pharmacist. A Pharmacist can only head a team, it is the dispensers behind them that make a Pharmacy run smoothly.

[Web Ferret]

The grievance process is now under way.


. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

I have taken this up with the RPSGB and I will keep you informed.

There is a "sign off" by a pharmacist for a technician.

From the RPSGB form:

Section 10: Declaration by countersigning pharmacist
I DECLARE that, to the best of my knowledge, the information given in this application, and in any supporting documents is true and accurate.
I have known the applicant for ____ years and I know of no reason why he/she should not practise as a pharmacy technician with honesty and integrity.