dispensing

[sam12]

Does anybody know why some pharmacists are ok dispensing, labelling and checking(whole process) whilst others want dispensers to help out with process and dont do the full process as it increases risk of error .can pharmacist not dispense,label and check all at the same time?

[dizzyb23]

The whole process has changed in order to free-up the Pharmacist to carry out consultations etc. I feel sooooo old saying this but I remember when ONLY the Pharmacist would check the script, label and dispense. The "dispenser" only did the picking, selling OTC and the occasional extemp prep......how times have changed. When I was an HCA, I never went in to the dispensary back then.....forbidden territory.

Now, I run it and gladly support my Pharmacist in anything and everything possible. I think it depends on the Pharmacist really. Those that have been qualified a long time tend to like to do as much as is possible and the ones that are newly or recently qualified seem to be more comfortable checking only with the occasional chat to a patient (some can only manage to play with their laptops/mobiles!!!!!)

Oh how times have changed!!!!!!!!!! If you feel you need more help from whoever you're working with, just ask......i'm sure they'll give you a hand.

[LeftArm]

AFAIK it is technically ok for a pharmacist to label, dispense and check their own work (I'm sure someone will correct me if this is not the case).
However, it is good practice for every script to be checked by a second person. So if a pharmacist labels and dispenses then a dispensing assistant or technician should make a final check. As you say this reduces the risk of error. (People tend to be less likely to spot their own errors)

[lamzee]

Those that have been qualified a long time tend to like to do as much as is possible and the ones that are newly or recently qualified seem to be more comfortable checking only with the occasional chat to a patient (some can only manage to play with their laptops/mobiles!!!!!)

Yes, I think it is an age thing, speaking as one of the "older" locums. I've had staff say to me "we've never had a locum help put the order away before", which I find amusing :-)

[sam12]

i agree with leftarm just one thing with dispensing process,ive worked with pharmacists and it seems some pharmacists feel let down we had a locum in and he was saying that staff tend to forget that we are human as they work long hours, busy branches no breaks, u checking ,handling queries ,handling methadone to much pressure on one individual and then be expected to dispense label , put orders away is to much?

[PHARMAC1ST]

I'm a locum and i do help with the dispensing process when it is quiet or slow.
However when it is busy i prefer to check and hand out with relevant advice.
I don't mind labelling as i also get to look at the patient history and spot any clinical issues then check the dispensed work.

But some pharmacists prefer not to be involved in the dispensing process and in all fairness if there is enough dispensary staff then i think it would be better for them to focus their skills on clinical side and giving advice to patients so that they can get the best out of their medicines.

I do give a hand with the order and on rare occasions make tea for the staff . I think it is important to keep the staff happy and as a locum i am rarely going to work their again so i like to leave a good impression even if the staff are not very helpful.

[Pharmanaut]

I do give a hand with the order and on rare occasions make tea for the staff . I think it is important to keep the staff happy and as a locum i am rarely going to work their again so i like to leave a good impression even if the staff are not very helpful.

Yes, making the tea is good protocol, it also means that the pharmacist can have one as well, and a sneak at Hello magazine etc while the kettle is boiling. Can't believe some of the stuff in these magazines these days.

[howe928]

AFAIK it is technically ok for a pharmacist to label, dispense and check their own work (I'm sure someone will correct me if this is not the case).
However, it is good practice for every script to be checked by a second person. So if a pharmacist labels and dispenses then a dispensing assistant or technician should make a final check. As you say this reduces the risk of error. (People tend to be less likely to spot their own errors)

http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/sops.pdf
'Self-checking is not recommended other than in exceptional circumstances in
which procedures are in place to assure patient safety and where it is in the
patient’s best interest to do so.'

check the standard operating procedure (SOP) as well, companies might have adapted the SOP differently

some pharmacists are not good at labelling or/and dispensing, dispensing staff are better and has got more time to do this and this free up the time for pharmacist to do other things that only pharmacists can do e.g. checking all dispensed prescriptions including monitored dosage system (MDS), SOP and PCT paperworks, blue scripts

[sam12]

could you please clarify is it not recommended for pharmacists to dispense and check at the same time and why is this so?

[Pharmanaut]

could you please clarify is it not recommended for pharmacists to dispense and check at the same time and why is this so?

Because of the risk involved if any of the steps in dispensing go wrong there is no independent double check to help mitigate the risk of picking, labelling or bagging error.