Labelling of dispensed medicines

[Pharmanaut]

Like others I was always told that you have to label the dispensed medicine with the name of the product used on the prescription.
This is getting increasingly difficult due to a number of things.
1. Sometimes handwritten prescriptions come in for the old BAN names, our system only has the rINN names.
2. The name on some of the EPS scripts is too long and the system uses as shortened version of the name.
3. Sometimes the prescription comes in with the names 'the other way round', to those on the system that are based on the DM+D names.
4. Sometimes the salt/ester on the script is different, eg Perindopril tert-butylamine and Perindopril Erbumine (same salt/ester though), or the old chestnut, Amlodipine.

Policy is to explain to patients if the name is different, however anyone know where we stand legally? Then we need some pragmatic advice if the legal opinion is unworkable.

I'm sure that the system can't have every synonym under the sun just in case someone uses them on a whim but surely it will be our fault if a patient gets confused and suffers harm?

You would think that computerisation would make standardisation of names easier, but it doesn't seem to be so.

[Web Ferret]

EPS r2 is all dm+d so what appears on the script will appear on your label.

Your system supplier will have to make changes to the printing font to comply with the connecting for health standards so the name does fit!

[Pharmanaut]

EPS r2 is all dm+d so what appears on the script will appear on your label.

Your system supplier will have to make changes to the printing font to comply with the connecting for health standards so the name does fit!

The names of some of the appliances are very long...
How will they fit on to a label and still look sensible, or does that not matter any more?

Activa class II below knee stocking circular knit standard stock size open toe Small Sand (Activa Healthcare Ltd)

[Web Ferret]

Use a font like Arial Narrow, reduce the space between the words slightly, lose the manufacturer and print it on two lines if needed.

I know of a system in development that has auto resizing of the text to make it fit - It works fine on a decent label printer.
The text is programmed to be reduced by 1/10mm until it fits.
It is still quite readable

Label printing will move on again to fourth generation- a bit like the transition from the old 9 pin dot matrix to 24 pin to thermal...

[Pharmanaut]

Use a font like Arial Narrow, reduce the space between the words slightly, lose the manufacturer and print it on two lines if needed.

I know of a system in development that has auto resizing of the text to make it fit - It works fine on a decent label printer.
The text is programmed to be reduced by 1/10mm until it fits.
It is still quite readable

Label printing will move on again to fourth generation- a bit like the transition from the old 9 pin dot matrix to 24 pin to thermal...

No doubt someone will mandate a font size, something like in the NPSA dispensing safety pamphlets.

[Web Ferret]

Interestingly the NPSA cannot mandate anything - They can only recommend.

They issued guidance on labels 2 years ago which no one has adopted fully.
Remember the dispensary design last year - Have you seen any dispensary that follows those guidelines fully.

[Pharmanaut]

Interestingly the NPSA cannot mandate anything - They can only recommend.

They issued guidance on labels 2 years ago which no one has adopted fully.
Remember the dispensary design last year - Have you seen any dispensary that follows those guidelines fully.

Flagging bottles of eye drops was enough for me.
Imagine a patient trying to use a bottle with a great big tag thing stuck on it.
Then when they put it down, the bottle tips over and either spills the contents, or contaminates the nozzle or both...

With the full DM+D names, full BNF wording on cautions, directions, patient name, date we overspill on to 2 labels will be the rule rather than the exception. Then how to you attach multiple labels without obscuring manufacturer information that we could be liable for if the patient does not have sight of it?

Then what happens to multiple labels for eye drops?

We are also supposed to label the final container, this is the actual inhaler, tube etc. How many actually do this?

After all these are requirements or recommendations, call them what you will - therefore we should follow them. If a patient suffers harm this could be something that their "brief" would jump on as a contributing factor.

[Web Ferret]

Flagging bottles of eye drops was enough for me.

With the full DM+D names, full BNF wording on cautions, directions, patient name, date we overspill on to 2 labels will be the rule rather than the exception.

Just make the label printing the same size as on the patient information leaflet!

[Jeff]

F
We are also supposed to label the final container, this is the actual inhaler, tube etc. How many actually do this?

Only on stockings