Placing orders with specials manufacturers
The Society has recently investigated a complaint concerning the supply
of the wrong strength of fludrocortisone suspension for a baby. The
suspension had been ordered, over the telephone, from a specials manufacturer.
Because the order was placed verbally, it has not been possible to
establish whether the product was ordered incorrectly by the pharmacist
or transcribed incorrectly by the specials manufacturer.
Pharmacists are therefore strongly advised to place orders with specials
manufacturers in writing, for instance via a fax, the hard copy of which
should kept in the pharmacy. If any queries should arise later, it will
then be possible to establish what was ordered, as an audit trail will
exist.
Placing orders in writing does not, however, eliminate the need for a
robust checking procedure before supply to pick up any previously unidentified
errors. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal