6 Accuracy Check. Objectives. Risks. Scope. Responsibility

Transcription

1 6 Accuracy Check Objectives This SOP is designed to ensure that dispensed prescriptions have been labelled and assembled accurately before being transferred to the patient. This SOP will ensure: Quality assurance in the dispensing process Labelling errors are identified Medication is supplied with the appropriate patient information leaflet (PIL) Any errors in product selection are identified The correct quantity has been dispensed The products supplied are not out of date The Checked By and Dispensed By boxes are appropriately initialled to provide an audit trail Risks Self checking by the Pharmacist Distractions or interruptions Unfamiliar or new medication, patients, or prescribers Medication/items may be dispensed incorrectly Medication may be out of date Scope This SOP will cover all NHS and private prescriptions that are dispensed but not prescriptions that are to be dispensed for monitored dosage systems such as MDS or CDS. Responsibility Only those members of the pharmacy team who have been considered competent and listed in the declaration of competence can carry out this procedure. 51

2 6 Accuracy Check Review The SOP will be reviewed every two years by the Pharmacy Superintendents Office (PSO) to reflect any changes to legislation affecting the process. A review of the SOP is required in the event of any change of staff, or any increase or decrease in the competence level of the staff. The SOP should also be reviewed following a critical incident. The responsibility for reviewing the SOP rests with the Pharmacy Manager (Pharmacist), or in their absence, the Pharmacist or Pharmacy Manager (non-pharmacist). In the absence of these members of staff, the appropriate Field Manager will be responsible for review. If as a result of the review any changes to the SOP are deemed necessary, these must be approved by the PSO. For any changes to the SOP a written application must be submitted, using the SOP Local Variation Template. The application should be sent either by fax ( ) or post to the PSO at Support Centre. 52

3 6 Accuracy Check - The Medication This process must not be undertaken unless a Pharmacist has assumed the duties of the RP 6.1 Ensure the Dispensed by box has been marked/initialled by the appropriate person Refer back to the appropriate person if this has not been completed Self checking: If self checking has occurred both Dispensed by ; and Checked by boxes must be appropriately marked/initialled to indicate a self check An appropriate mental break should be taken between preparing and checking the prescription in this instance 6.2 Read the prescription and check the patient Name and address 6.3 Ensure the name and address on the bag label corresponds to the details on the prescription 6.4 Check the medication on the prescription against the items dispensed and the following details correspond: name, quantity, strength, form and dosage instructions Check multiple packs of the same medication and strength Check the contents of all the items against the above criteria Take special care with split packs Visually check the contents of the dispensed medication against the bulk packs of tablets If dispensing liquids check against the stock bottle/original bottle where applicable/relevant 6.5 Check the expiry dates: Ensure the medication remains in date for the duration of the treatment 6.6 Check the pack contains the appropriate/relevant PIL 6.7 Ensure warning cards are included E.g. Lithium, Warfarin, Steroid, Methotrexate 6.8 Read the label: Patient: Medication: name name, quantity, strength, form, dosage instructions, precautions, and warning labels 53

4 6 Accuracy Check - The Label 6.9 Check the label against the prescription Patient: check the patient name is correct Medication: check the medication name, quantity, strength, form, dosage instructions are correct Ensure the dosage information is unambiguous Check the necessary BNF warning labels are correct Check the label is on the product and not the outside of the packaging unless the product size/shape does not allow this. Consider patient preference Take extra care with CDs, anticoagulant, antiepileptic, diabetic, cytotoxic and children s medication 6.10 Initial/mark the Checked by box on the label once the above accuracy checks have been completed 6.11 Ensure the correct endorsing/coding is on the prescription Add any that may be missing and correct any that may be wrong 6.12 Where appropriate check the reverse of the prescription is completed correctly and the correct number of charges has been collected 6.13 Include any appropriate compliance aids/dosing aids E.g. spoons, measuring cups or oral syringes. If an error has occurred: Ensure the appropriate dispenser is notified and request that it be corrected Ensure Near Misses are logged and are reviewed on a regular basis 6.14 Proceed to the Bagging Up procedure 54

5 6 Accuracy Check Practice Guidance Pharmacist should only check prescriptions labelled or assembled by themselves if there is no alternative. Only check one item at a time in order to minimise the risk of an error not being detected. Take particular care when checking dosage information for liquid preparations, errors can arise when the dose is incorrectly expressed on the label as ml instead of mg. Ensure the contents, including each blister strip, of all bulk packs or patient packs are checked during the Accuracy Check procedure. Taking particular care with Parallel Imports, as the quantity in the packaging may differ to UK packs. All prescription forms must be endorsed/coded as dispensed, however this endorsement/coding must also be checked as part of the Accuracy Check procedure. 55

6 56