Where do I stand?

[tinx25388]

I am a registered tech, and work with an ACT who has been in the job for donkeys years.

The other day we had an error go out, and antibiotic for Mr X, but we labelled it for Mrs X. The Care Home staff noticed this, and contacted us the next morning. I followed the SOP for dealing with dispensing errors, right up to the point where it HAS to be a Pharmacist. Although the medication hadn't been administered, there was a long delay from when she should have started it, and even though it wasn't my decision whether to report it to PSO or not, I felt we ought to. (this was not my error, it was one of the trainees and the ACT)

As one Pharmacist was at lunch, and the other was completely snowed under, I placed it on the side until the 2nd Pharmacist got back. When I went to get it, it had disappeared. I asked generally where it had gone, and was told she had binned it, wasn't worth reporting (our error rates have been very high lately)

Once the ACT left the room, I retreived it from the DOOP bin, and the photocopy from the confidential bin, and I informed the Pharmacist when they returned from lunch. The Pharmacist, quite rightly, wanted it reported.

Now the ACT mocked me openly for taking an item out of the bin, and informed me that as SHE was the senior, it was her decision not mine. I wanted to say that it wasn't, but I was so angry, if I had said anything, more would have come out than I intended. She then took the items, and I havent been able to locate them. The Pharmacist I had discussed it with wont be in until Tuesday.

What I need to know, is if she were to not report an error I had made, where would I stand legally? As it would be in breach of the SOPs.

Sorry about the rant - still very annoyed. Haven't yet had to say anything to her since then!

[Gordon Mackenzie]

I would recommend that your SOPs are always followed and errors should not be covered up and all should be reported. Discuss the issue with your pharmacists.

[crit care]

i guess if she wasn't to report an error, then everyone is going to be none the wiser, so they woudln't knwo you had breached an SOP.....and you have to ask yourself, if the error was noticed the next day and the patient hadn't received any of the antibiotic..were they meant to have received antibiotic that evening??..so you could argue a delay in administering medication on the care homes part........

i'ld leave this to the pharmacist to sort out, you've done your part!

[Tony Schofield]

I acknowledge your dilemna re your future working relationship with this woman. You were right to act as you did. Keep your cool and be professional until the pharmacist returns on Tuesday. I can't help thinking that as the pharmacist is ultimately responsible it is his/her decision, not that of an ACT no matter how long serving, to decide what is reported or otherwise.

[Rafael]

I would be interested to know more about the incident. It's very worrying that such a thing happen in the big brother boots outlets. A similar story ended up in disciplinary action and the ACT list her title and she would never be allowed to practice as an ACT within boots( unless change of area managers takes place and the new joiner wouldnt have a clue of what had happenee). It shows dishonesty, lack of trust and failure to follow company SOPs which could put the responsible pharmacist in trouble if the care home complained to the regulator, who will get in touch with the clinical governance pharmacist at boots who will fail to back the RP due to no report being filled

[tinx25388]

Well turns out that she decided that she was going to report it after all, although made it very clear it had nothing to do with my decision to retrieve it from the bin, but still maintained it was ultimately her decision and only she should report it.

Spoke to the Pharmacist yesterday, who checked that it had definitely been reported. So in this instance, it has been sorted. BUT it does make me wonder how many of the other situations, where I left it to her to sort out, didnt get reported.

If I hear of it happening again, I will be reporting her to the management.

[dizzyb23]

Sorry to hear you had such a difficult situation. Some support staff really think they know it all and run things accordingly. I've been working with an ACT like that for months and she is one of the many reasons why i'm leaving in a couple of weeks. Her attitude sucks and despite numerous complaints, nothing gets done about her. She is a nasty little pest. The way she speaks to the locum pharmacists is shameful but for some reason they all take it from her....weird....

[tinx25388]

Sorry to hear you had such a difficult situation. Some support staff really think they know it all and run things accordingly. I've been working with an ACT like that for months and she is one of the many reasons why i'm leaving in a couple of weeks. Her attitude sucks and despite numerous complaints, nothing gets done about her. She is a nasty little pest. The way she speaks to the locum pharmacists is shameful but for some reason they all take it from her....weird....

You could almost be talking about the same person. Today she told a locum, who was showing a general interest in how we are doing for MURs, to just get on with the dispensing - so embarrassing!!

[wanda]

did i read it correct she works for Boots shamfull her manager should be repremanded as well.Or are they good friend's and they brush each others errors under the carpet
Iknow it should'nt happen but it does. I now from personal expereance, if it happens again go over the managers head and complain as this effects us all. [B]Don't take any shit from an ACT she's only a checker not your Boss
Wanda

[dizzyb23]

You could almost be talking about the same person. Today she told a locum, who was showing a general interest in how we are doing for MURs, to just get on with the dispensing - so embarrassing!!

I don't know what it is with some senior members of support staff but they really do get it into their heads that they are "in charge". Yes they have a substantial working knowledge of the branch etc but they are not in charge. I've noticed it a few times before but this awful ACT i've worked with for the past year is the worst by far. She's been a Boots employee for 30 years plus and that's great but she is an ACT not a Pharmacist or store manager. We are supposed to know our limitations within our roles. This is a nice way of saying "know your place"......The amount of locums that haven't come back because of this woman is shocking. I knew about her a couple of years BEFORE i started working at the branch!!!! She has the worst reputation and yet.......management, pharmacists etc put up with her. I've complained twice about her using the correct channels and nothing came of it despite my best efforts. We've butted heads on many occasions and because of that she leaves me be but she bullies everyone else and gets away with it. She is the perfect example of how not to do the role of an ACT/Tech.