The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7410 p103
22 July 2006

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· Professional regulation
· Code of Ethics (2)
· The profession (4)
· Community pharmacy (2)
· Multiples
· Accuracy checking
· CPPE (3)
· Medicines use review
· Emergency supplies (2)
· Controlled Drugs
· NHS
· Nutrition
· Fellowship
· The Council
· Retention fees
· Section 60 Order

Letters to the Editor

Accuracy checking

Suggested extension to HELP mnemonic

From Mrs J. Boyt, RegPharmTech, and Mrs M. S. Culshaw, MRPharmS

The first cohort of students to take part in an “accuracy checking for pharmacy” course at the University of Huddersfield completed their three study days covering underpinning knowledge related to error reduction in June and are currently completing their “checking logs”.

As part of the training students were encouraged to use the mnemonic “HELP”, as recommended by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, to ensure that all the necessary checks have been made on a dispensed medicines.

One of us (JB) suggested a modification to the mnemonic which is both practical and pharmacy-friendly, namely, prefixing the mnemonic with a “P” for “prescription”. The new mnemonic “PHELP” reminds the checker to perform an extra check on the prescription to ensure that it is complete in all respects before continuing with the familiar H (how much has been dispensed), E (expiry check), L (label check) and P (product and strength).

We would like to share this simple but effective amendment to the system many pharmacy staff may be using, since we believe it adds an extra element of security to the accuracy check for both patients and pharmacy staff.

Joanne Boyt
Pharmacy Technician
Nuffield Hospitals

Margaret Culshaw
Principal Pharmacist
University of Huddersfield

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