From Mr P. Burgess, MRPharmS
SIR,-Who would care to arbitrate or express an opinion about the correct way to label? Some have decided that labels should be placed on the front of packs, even if there is a space allocated on the reverse stating "Affix pharmacy label here".
I am a little worried that it may appear that the pharmacist may not have looked at the pack carefully before applying the label.
Is anyone in authority able to say, for example, if sticking the label on the front of the pack, instead of the space provided, is likely to lose marks in a dispensing examination?
I have to say I entirely agree that the label should be on the front of the pack but just look at the patient packs we have to use. I have not yet seen a pack that allocates a space on the front. Lots do not even acknowledge that labels are ever applied; others continue to believe our labels are minute and yet others invite us to apply them in silly places, eg, Cozaar (up and over), Brufen Retard (on the side) and APS co-proxamol (on the base).
I thought the Society was in charge of standards so should it not be involved in writing to all the manufacturers to exert pressure to get them to conform to an acceptable standard?
Paul Burgess
Kingston, Surrey