The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7155 p15-16
July 7, 2001

  Pharmacy technicians
  Education
  Amfebutamone
  Self-checking
  SGM
  Separate registers
  Primary care pharmacy

Self-checking

A cautionary tale

From Mr D. G. Swanson, MRPharmS

The recent “Broad Spectrum” article on self-checking (PJ, 16 June, p814) reminded me of an incident when self-checking failed me. While erecting a new worktop in our kitchen I had to avoid a gas pipe. Although I carefully marked the pipe’s track on the wall, a moment of distraction (the doorbell) proved my undoing and on returning to the job, the inevitable puncture of the pipe occurred. There was no one to blame but myself.

Many years ago wise hospital pharmacists introduced the system of double checks into all dispensing and self-checking is now reserved only for pharmacists performing on-call duties.

My gas pipe was replaceable; a life is not.

Derek Swanson
Liverpool

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