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Letters to the Editor
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Patient packs
Still no enforced standard
From Mr R. G. Waters, MRPharmS
I have seen little response to the Law and Ethics Bulletin (PJ, 28 July,
p133) that advised pharmacists "to open every container that is not
security sealed to ensure that the pack contains the correct medication
in the correct strength and quantity".
As a freelance locum, I come across many pharmacies that would have to
extend their long working hours to conform with this request. All credit
to the Professional Standards Directorate for recognising that there is
a potential risk when patient packs are opened to repack or to adjust
the number to 28 or 30, but not for coming up with the wrong solution,
which is that prescription quantities should, except in special cases,
be rounded to the nearest whole pack. Some pharmacies are already doing
this with no query arising when the prescription is sent for pricing.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, in league with the Pharmaceutical Services
Negotiating Committee, should be demanding that the Department of Health,
through the Prescription Pricing Authority, should also accept quantities
rounded up where appropriate as they already do for calendar packs.
It beggars belief that there is still no enforced standard for a four-week
or 28-day month; the existing mix of pack sizes makes a mockery of health
authorities, such as here in Cornwall, which are leafleting patients about
drug wastage and saying doctors will be "trying to give you the same
number of days' supply of each medicine on your prescription".
Geoff Waters
Fowey, Cornwall
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