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The profession
Dispensary is not a “comfort zone”
From Mr D. L. Coleman, FRPharmS
In the PJ (5 October, p499) Helen Darracott, head of professional standards
at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, talks about “challenging the
comfort zone of the dispensary”.
Now I have experienced many emotions in the dispensary but never have
regarded it as a “comfort zone”. The more apt descriptions seem
to be “frantic”, “pressurised”, “a treadmill”
or “a slave to time” and even on some occasions not far short
of a “battlefield”. Few of us, I imagine, can manage to supervise
methadone consumption, to check prescriptions, to deal with a telephone
query and advise a patient all at the same time and I do not believe any
of us would call such an experience a visit to a “comfort zone”.
I acknowledge, too, the invaluable work of technicians and the pressure
they are often exposed to is, at times, almost unacceptable.
Some might describe extended role practice as approaching a comfort zone.
Certainly I find discussing the medication of a patient with a general
practitioner or talking to a patient group or health authority much less
stressful, simply because I can concentrate on one thing at a time.
Mrs Darracott also says that the Code of Ethics has not required a final
check for some years. This is true, but her department has recently written
to a major multiple asking it to insist that all pharmacists initial the
label on the dispensed medicine. That surely is “the final check
approach” or is she seriously suggesting that the label be initialled
before the prescription is assembled or completed?
David Coleman
North Walsham, Norfolk
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Stephen Lutener, head of professional conduct, Royal Pharmaceutical
Society, replies:
There may be some confusion about the meaning of comments made by Professional
Standards Directorate when advising pharmacists about dispensing procedures.
We do, indeed, refer to a “final check” in our letters, but
these are accuracy checks which may be carried out by any suitably trained
member of staff. The check which only a pharmacist should carry out is
the clinical or professional check.
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