Focus on Medicines safety

A message from Claire Nevinson, Superintendent Pharmacist

In this month’s case study, you are asked to reflect on the importance of the careful dispensing and supply of valproate when prescribed to women of childbearing age. This example highlights the important role that our pharmacists and our pharmacy technicians have in supporting the safe supply and use of medicines by patients; this will always be a critical role for pharmacy professionals.   

The introduction of systemised accuracy checking, such as through DSP and ADDD, has resulted in a reduction in incident rates in pharmacies using this technology and has therefore strengthened patient safety. However, our duty of care to keep our patients safe continues beyond accurate dispensing and includes the need to ensure patients take their medicines correctly and safely. A quality clinical assessment of a prescription should include consideration of the patient’s characteristics and circumstances as well as any cautions relating to the medication prescribed. Assuring medicines safety requires a person-centred and holistic approach to clinical assessment drawing on the expertise and knowledge of pharmacists. Continued roll out of supportive technology, such as the digital clinical check, will improve the quality of the clinical assessment and encourages this important activity to be carried out without distraction. Additionally, the introduction of systemised accuracy checks frees up valuable time for our accuracy checking pharmacy technicians to play their part in providing support to patients in a personalised and impactful way. Using the skills and knowledge of our technicians and every member of the pharmacy team in the best way through the dispensing process will ultimately assure medicines safety and the delivery of great patient care. I encourage pharmacists and technicians to reflect on their relationship as partners in the delivery of patient care.

Finally, with Easter being early again this year, and multiple Bank Holidays on the horizon, take the time now to plan ahead, particularly if your pharmacy supports vulnerable patients such as care home residents and those requiring supervised consumption. Remember that my team are here to help with professional queries on every Bank Holiday except Easter Sunday and Christmas Day so please ensure staff working during this time, including locum pharmacists, have our contact details readily available in the dispensary.