Unqualified dispensing assistant gets criminal record for error.

[DavidS]

I thought all you support staff, saturday girls, helpful cleaners, visiting receptionists, delivery drivers, work-experience students should be aware that if you make a mistake and the pharmacist or ACT checking doesn't notice, you too could be in line for a criminal record. And a fine.

Dispenser loses appeal against error conviction - Chemist + Druggist

I am indebted to Locumvoice for drawing my attention to this. The thread discussing this there is LocumVoice • View topic - Should we show this to the staff.....

and I think the answer to the question that titles the thread is Yes.

[Pharmanaut]

And the payment for taking all the risk is DT part IIIA.
All prescriptions attract a professional fee of 90p

[bobbin]

All prescriptions attract a professional fee of 90p

..........which certainly didn't go to the unqualified dispensing assistant who was probably getting the minimum wage. Not sure how she will manage to pay the £500 fine.

[johnep]

Understood employers were paying fines. Just wonder who funded the appeal.
johnep

[bobbin]

Understood employers were paying fines. Just wonder who funded the appeal.
johnep

Good point Johnep.

[Fleegle]

And the payment for taking all the risk is DT part IIIA.
All prescriptions attract a professional fee of 90p

Plus a healthy Practice Allowance based on quantity of items dispensed....There are still more than a good few BMWs, Mercedes and Jaguars out there, ironically driven by 'poor pharmacists'...

[bobbin]

Plus a healthy Practice Allowance based on quantity of items dispensed....There are still more than a good few BMWs, Mercedes and Jaguars out there, ironically driven by 'poor pharmacists'...

The practice payment is currently about 71p (actually 70.9p) per item for most pharmacies in England and Wales.

[Fleegle]

Pretty much my point. £1-60 per item, in perspective, appears a bit more attractive than 90p. Hidden discounts jack that sum up considerably to boot.......or do they?

[bobbin]

Pretty much my point. £1-60 per item, in perspective, appears a bit more attractive than 90p. Hidden discounts jack that sum up considerably to boot.......or do they?

Can do. Mainly on generics. Discounts are now so low on most major branded medicines that money is lost.

[howe928]

i think the Judge is right, everyone involved in the selling and supplying of medicines is held responsible for the work they involved, only this will improve overall quality of a pharmacy e.g. giving advice carefully, improve their knowledge about medicines, dispense responsibly, giving out medicines safely

in this case, there are a few unknown which could affect the outcome
1) who gave out the bagged medicines? if it was the pharmacist, did she open and check the medicines in front of the patients? or was it the dispenser? shop assistant? driver?
2) who came in to collect the medicines? carer who knows what the patient is taking, carer who does not have a clue what patient is taking or patient; did they open the bagged medicine and check?
everybodies involved are responsible

I also agreed employees who have a high risk job should get better pay, this is to attract and keep brave people to work in the high risk job.