The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7461 p72
21 July 2007

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Letters to the Editor

Dispensing

Criteria for errors brought into question

From Mr G. S. Phillips, MRPharmS

I am grateful to Philip Walton (PJ, 7 July, p18) and Joy Wingfield (PJ, 19 May, p584) for continuing to press the case over decriminalising single dispensing errors. This is part of a wider problem: I am on record as saying that our profession has suffered over the years from being over-regulated and under-represented and that the resultant over-cautious culture within the profession does nothing to support leading-edge practice or patient care.

It is this, and not government diktats, that finally convinced me that splitting the Royal Pharmaceutical Society would be in the interests of the public and the profession.

The matter of dispensing errors has been discussed twice recently in the Society’s Council (see also Council agrees process for dealing with one-off dispensing errors) and members can read for themselves the discussion from the transcripts. I am persuaded that the current direction of travel is the right one but, like Mr Walton and Professor Wingfield, I am unhappy with some of the criteria.

In discussion with Mandie Lavin, director of fitness to practise at the Society, it has been agreed that a review of the new procedures and criteria will be brought to Council after they have been in operation for six months. I have sought assurances that the discussion will take place in open business so that all members can assess progress for themselves. I hope the membership find this reassuring and I welcome the debate.

Graham Phillips
Member of Council
Royal Pharmaceutical Society

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