Who is responsible? Who will be prosecuted?

[johnep]

Could be frequent in areas where lots of say, Patels. always use address to check.
johnep

[shan]

I personally think everyone that is involved in the process of dispensing and handling the prescription had a part to play.

1. when the medications were dispensed. for every prescription you should check name on the prescription ( as we all know GP surgery can get that wrong sometimes)
2.Before the medications where put ready for collection the Pharmacist C should have checked the name on the prescription against the label
3. Pharmacist D should have checked and gone through the medications with the patient. ( the patient might have realised that a mistake has been made? As not when the medications is given out that the prescription is filed right?)

Just my opinion.

All looks so great, just as the GPhC or the earstwhile RPSGB has mentioned in the pharmacist regulations. Why always the pharmacist D blamed ??? What if the bag was handed over by the counter staff, since it was already checked and bagged ready for collection. Do you think the pharmacist has enough time to go through each and every patient's medication before handing over (which is the ideal situation) ????? Impractical.

Shan

[jessie]

What should happen in the case of a prescription that has been correctly dispensed and labelled but is then handed to the wrong patient.

It is a major breach of data protection act.....So depends how each individual pharmacy responses to that

[jessie]

It is a major breach of data protection act.....So depends how each individual pharmacy responses to that

Also lets hope the customer hasn't taken any of the medication! or it could be a court case

[sparkybw]

Unfortunately the patient had used the medication. And it was the patient who informed the pharmacy of the error. At the moment the pharmacy seems to be quite blase about the whole thing, which surprises me considerably. I think perhaps they are being so relaxed because the patient doesn't seem as though they will make a complaint.

[jessie]

Unfortunately the patient had used the medication. And it was the patient who informed the pharmacy of the error. At the moment the pharmacy seems to be quite blase about the whole thing, which surprises me considerably. I think perhaps they are being so relaxed because the patient doesn't seem as though they will make a complaint.

So did the patient take the medication that was in the bag, which was the same medication as they would normally take? Has a report been done on it with the people involved?

[sparkybw]

No, it was a different medication and the patient realised after they had used it. I don't know if a report has been done as I'm not personally involved. Thank God!

[DavidS]

Do you think the pharmacist has enough time to go through each and every patient's medication before handing over (which is the ideal situation) ????? Impractical.

Shan

Most SOP's to my knowledge expect that once checked and wrapped, they will be given out without further checking (apart from checking it's the right patient, which - almost - goes without saying.