North West Hospitals Pre-registration
Trainee Pharmacist Accuracy
Checking Programme
(based on the Welsh PACE model)
Gill Butler
NW Pharmacist Trainers Steering Group
Aim:
To develop the baseline knowledge and
skills required for the Accuracy checking of
dispensed prescriptions to enable pre-regs
to start the North West Hospitals Preregistration Trainee Pharmacist Accuracy
Checking Programme
Objectives:
1. To introduce the Accuracy Checking Programme
2. To reflect on errors and the consequences of
errors
3. To develop your own accuracy checking checklist
4. To describe the key stages in the Accuracy
Checking process
6. To develop skills in accuracy checking
7. To describe what action to take to resolve
problems with prescriptions
North West Hospitals Pre-registration
Trainee Pharmacist Accuracy Checking
Programme
Scope
To enable Trusts within the North West who
sign up to the scheme to use pre-registration
trainee pharmacists as accuracy checkers
within their pharmacy departments
Aims of the scheme
To enable the pre-regs to
• Develop knowledge and skills for accuracy checking
• Develop communication skills
• Collect evidence for performance standards
• Develop professional awareness of pharmacy practice
• Demonstrate competence in accuracy checking
• Accuracy check in the dispensary
• Acknowledge the risks and consequences of errors
North West Hospitals Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacist Accuracy Checking Programme
Training and Accreditation
• NW Accuracy checking module
• Portfolio of Practice based activities
• Accuracy checking test
• Accreditation by tutor/pre-reg manager
North West Hospitals Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacist Accuracy Checking Programme
Activity 1
Group work
Reflection on errors
Activity 2
Individual work
Develop checklist for accuracy checking
Key Stages of Accuracy Checking
1. Check the prescription
2. Check the items prescribed
3. Check the item
4. Check the bulk container (if not original
pack)
5. Check the label
6. Final sign off
1. Check the prescription
Read the prescription and check the following
- Signed as clinically checked by a pharmacist
- Valid and in date
- Signed and dated by prescriber
- Patients name and hospital number
- Patients age or date of birth +/- weight
- Consultant
- Ward or department
2. Check the item(s) on the prescription
Drug name
Dosage form and route
Dose and frequency
Additional directions
Duration of treatment (if applicable)
Controlled drug requirements (if applicable)
3. Check the item
Check the following are correct and in accordance
with the prescription
- Product, strength, form
- Quantity
- Ensure the label does not cover any important
information including braille
- In date and will not expire before treatment
complete
- Appropriate container and closure
- Second quantity check for cytotoxics
4. Check the bulk container
If an item is packed down, need to check that
- Bulk container is correct product and strength
- Product in date and will not expire before
treatment complete
- Original materials are of acceptable quality
- Contents of bulk container match dispensed item
5. Check the label
Patient details – name (spelt correctly)
Ward and consultant
Date
Drug name, strength and form
Quantity (check calculations)
Directions
Additional warning labels (BNF appendix 9)
Supplementary labels – storage instructions, expiry date etc.
6. Final sign off
Check endorsements
Sundries – appropriate bag, bag label, PILs,
warning cards, spoons, oral syringes etc.
Check relevant paperwork is complete and
sent with the prescription
Sign the prescription as checked
Activity 3
Individual work
Practical session
Activity 4
Individual work
Complete a record of evidence
Objectives revisited:
1. To introduce the Accuracy Checking
Programme
2. To reflect on errors and the consequences of
errors
3. To develop your own accuracy checking
checklist
4. To describe the key stages in the Accuracy
Checking process
6. To develop skills in accuracy checking
7. To describe what action to take to resolve
problems with prescriptions