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The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 264 No 7090 p512
April 1, 2000 Letters

Extemporaneous dispensing

Learning from mistakes

From Miss K. Patterson, MRPharmS

SIR,-Mr P. B. Patel (PJ, March 18, p438) feels it is necessary to delegate extemporaneous preparations to specials manufacturers. I think he may find this a bit costly when dispensing sodium chloride co mouthwash. He will be charged £32 for such a service and be paid 11p by the National Health Service for its cost. (Broken bulk on ingredients is allowed.) He may just have to take down Martindale and revisit the mathematics covered in his university days!
As to contacting the general practitioner for an alternative, is that professional?
We are all human and accidents do happen. But we are also professionals and we cannot just hang up our coats when one of our colleagues makes a grave error. We must review and learn from their mistakes and ensure that such errors never happen again.

Kylla Patterson
Nottingham