The safe dispensing of medicines

admin December 11th, 2007

The NPSA have issued two booklets about the safe dispensing of medicines.

1. A guide to the design of the dispensing environment.

2. A guide to the design of dispensed medicines.

A BMJ news report summerises the key points as:

  • Designing dispensaries that encourage a safe and effective flow of work
  • Patients’ waiting areas that allow for confidential discussions about their drugs
  • Using bar codes on drug packs to aid accuracy checking
  • Ensuring that dispensing labels are clearly laid out, with text in a size that patients can read easily
  • Placing labels on packaging in a way that does not obscure important information or, where this is not possible, on smaller packets and tubes, using “flag” labels, and
  • Directly labelling containers rather than outer packaging.

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