Methods of Avoiding the Errors in the first place

[gonzan]

to just haphazadly put the basket of medication together.

I dont get it. Like what? one basket for few different scripts? Where is such practice?!?!

[nicholass]

colleagues matter!

can u imagine dispenser just throwing things on the bench not to say lining up or all facing same side..sometimes not even right one!
after labelled, being thrown same way over to pharmacist to check..
i have tried to mention to her indirectly but nothing changed since she first started till i finish pre-reg week ago...thank god!
feel sorry for my tutor though

i'm sure with a more responsible colleague help minimising dispensing errors and saving lots lots of time!

[nicholass]

Your mis-spelling of 'prednisolone' horrifies me, and makes a mockery of your high-powered post. If you can't spell the name of the drug in the first place, how can you possibly be trusted to identify a potential error in prescribed similarly-named drugs?

Fleeg.

this is good one

[imaginegenerous]

In the Pharmacy where I work (as a dispenser) there is an ongoing battle between two dispensers and the Pharmacy Manager. One who takes longer to dispense, but rarely makes a mistake, and one who churns out scripts at ridiculous pace, and never seems bothered if she makes an error. Recently one reached the patient, with the patient taking completely the wrong medication for a month before noticing that "she wasnt feeling quite right and wondered if it was because the tablets looked a bit different"

I am struggling to understand why it is the slow, accurate one who is getting told to work faster, and the faster one is not questioned by the Manager (only our other regular Pharmacist!)

The only possible 'reason' I can think of for this, and not saying it is correct, but is the pharmacy manager under pressure from higher up to reduce waiting times, increase script numbers, quicker turnaround etc? And also under pressure from customers wanting their prescription in thirty seconds flat?

[crit care]

its pretty sad if thats the case. I don't think using targets at the expense of patient safety will stand up in front of a coroner!

[andrew paxton]

I keep on saying this on other forums (fora?) Read the NPSA Guide to Dispensed Medicines on Design for patient safety: a guide to the design of dispensed medicines

[orangiey]

Why is it it I'm impressed when I go to an opticians who say they can do my glasses ready for collection in an hour but seeing red when I have to wait 10 mins for my daughter's cream from the Pharmacy (I don't work locally so I use my local Pharmacy in an emergency)....maybe we need to change the culture and remove waiting times and pressure and everyone is a call back!!!?? ....Discuss....