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Letters to the Editor
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Dispensing
Pharmacists must re-examine extemporaneous dispensing
From Miss M. J. Gilmour, MRPharmS
Rationalisation of the many different formulae used in extemporaneous
dispensing is not simply to be welcomed, as stated
by Tony Nunn (PJ, 18/25 December 2004, p880), it is long overdue.
A truly national formulary of evaluated extemporaneous products should
be the aim. When this work is carried out, due consideration must be given
to the ready availability of all the suggested ingredients and apparatus
to both community and hospital pharmacies, so that preparations can be
made promptly and accurately.
Many extemporaneous medicines have short expiry dates. Families with ill
members have many problems and often realise too late that a vital medicine
is about to run out or has become out of date.
This leads to an upsetting tour of GP surgery, community pharmacies and
hospital pharmacies, often late at night or at weekends, in the quest for
a further urgent supply.
National action can happen. The Brompton Cocktail, in all its many different
formulations, was discarded when official British National Formulary versions
had been evaluated and recommended, which, in turn, were superseded by
oral morphine solutions, reflecting further research.
Much is being made of new or extended roles for pharmacists. Many of these “new” activities
are already being performed by other professionals.
I suggest that pharmacists re-examine an old role, one which is not carried
out by any other group — extemporaneous dispensing — before
we lose all our skills in this area.
It may be a task that does not bring in much money, but it is something
which belongs uniquely to pharmacy and is a service which the general
public has a right to expect from us.
Margaret J. Gilmour
Bolton,
Lancashire |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal