The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7190 p397-401
23 March 2002

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Letters to the Editor

Checking technicians

I can sleep soundly at night

From Mr N. S. Bashford, MRPharmS

We are fast approaching a status of accredited checking technicians (ACT) in most community pharmacies, initiated by LloydsPharmacy from May, with Boots and Moss watching the developments. I have nothing against increased responsibilities of dispensary technicians; I think, however, that these responsibilities are going one step too far.

What locum or manager would be happy with never seeing the dispensed, finished item? Yet it will be our necks in the noose when the inevitable errors occur. How would we stand before the Statutory Committee and the law? We would not have a leg to stand on. Have we not learnt anything from recent prosecution cases resulting from dispensing errors?

What pharmacist could go home in peace, knowing that they cannot verify the contents and labels of all dispensed items that day, although he or she maintains all responsibility for the day's activities. How many times daily have pharmacists spotted mistakes during the dispensing process? Are we simply to be assured that a two-day residential training programme for technicians will eliminate all errors and so safeguard the pharmacist's future. Our future in their hands? Not likely. I want it in my own hands.

Major errors are fortunately not too common, because the current final checker is the one whose job and future is on the line. Take that away, and more errors are likely to occur.

The answer is surely an increase in dispensary staff, or is LloydsPharmacy planning on having accredited checking technicians working by themselves to reduce costs? Which is more important: a clinical check to see if prescriptions are written correctly and safely, or a final check of the actual dispensed item? I will sleep soundly. I will continue with that all important final check myself.

Syd Bashford
Beverley, North Humberside

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