WORKED AS A SUPERINTEDENT PHARMACIST IN THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY AND FOR THE HOSPITAL PHARMACY. I DID WORK AS A LOCUM FOR PRISON AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY PHARMACIES.

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BETTER OPPORTUNITIES ESPECIALLY PRISON WORK AND HOSPITAL WORK.

I was called by the directors of Victoria pharmacy in Hartlepool to help them to pass the GPhC inspection. The pharmacy failed the inspection and they knew that I was working as a consultant. I was given the time frame of 2 months to pass the inspection.

I visited pharmacy on the first day and realised that there were no SOPs in place, CDs were not written and all the protocols and procedures were not in place. The staff morale was low. It was a big task but I accepted the challenge.

Firstly, I had a staff meeting and was transparent about the failed inspection. I advised them that not passing inspection means their jobs are on line but also I needed their support to pass the inspection. We had honest conversation and started action plan. I advised them that I will write new SOPs and protocols which will needed to be read and signed asap. I asked staff to do date checking and make sure that all the protocols and procedures are met. I went through 6 months of CD check with one member of staff after work so we can check them without disturbance.

The whole plan came together and I asked GPhC inspector to visit the pharmacy. The inspection passed and the directors were extremely happy. I was awarded with the Director of Pharmacy job.

The Medicines Act 1968 is an act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its An Act to make new provision with respect to medicinal products and related matters, and for purposes connected therewith. It governs the control of medicines for human use and for veterinary use, which includes the manufacture and supply of medicines, and the manufacture and supply of medicines.

The act defines three categories of medicine: prescription only medicines (POM), which are available only from a pharmacist if prescribed by an appropriate practitioner, pharmacy medicines (P), available only from a pharmacist but without a prescription; and general sales list (GSL) medicines which may be bought from any shop without a prescription.

Review Patient History and Notes: Thoroughly review the patient’s medical history, including any previous medications, allergies, and existing conditions. Check if there are any relevant notes or discussions about the patient’s treatment plan.

Consult with Colleagues or Specialists: If you’re uncertain about prescribing a specific medication, seek advice from colleagues or specialists. Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to make an informed decision.

Consider the patient’s current condition and symptoms.
Only prescribe medication that is indicated for the patient’s specific condition.
Avoid unnecessary prescriptions.

If I were to become aware of an incident or complaint in which I was involved or implicated, I would take the following steps:

Acknowledge the Situation: First and foremost, I would acknowledge the incident or complaint. Denying or ignoring it would not be productive.

Stay Calm and Objective: Emotions can run high in such situations, but it’s essential to remain calm and objective. I would avoid getting defensive and instead focus on understanding the issue.

Gather Information: I would collect all relevant information related to the incident. This might involve reviewing communication records, documents, or any other evidence.

Listen Actively: If there are other parties involved, I would actively listen to their perspective. Understanding their point of view is crucial for a fair assessment.

Apologize If Necessary: If I find that I made a mistake or contributed to the issue, I would apologize sincerely. Taking responsibility is essential for building trust.

Document the incident: I would document the incident which can be a learning curve for the other colleagues and staff members.

Learn and Improve: Every incident provides an opportunity for growth. I would reflect on what went wrong and how to prevent similar situations in the future.

Clinical governance is a system through which organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care. It is an integrated set of leadership behaviours, policies, procedures, responsibilities, relationships, planning, monitoring and improvement mechanisms that are implemented to support safe, quality clinical care and good clinical outcomes for each patients.

The incident happened in University Hospital Southampton when I was superintendent pharmacist. One of the locum checked the wrong medication and the patient was admitted to hospital. Medication for the male was given to female medication and the lady took medication for 9 days. She was admitted to hospital straightaway with swollen legs etc.

The Oncology Lead Pharmacist called me and advised what had happened and the patient's relatives wanted to meet me and find out about the incident. I went to see the patient's relatives immediately. It was going to be difficult but also time for me to advise them about the incident.

Firstly, I apologised to them unreservedly and asked about the patient's wellbeing. I even met with the patient and apologised to her. Secondly I advised them that I will be investigating the incident, review the findings and will submit the report to Patient Advice and Liaison Service. I also advised them that I shall send them the full report as well.

The Patient's relatives were very understanding and were happy with my apology and how I was taking this as a matter of urgency but also reassuring them that we shall learn from this and make sure that this incident will not be repeated.