RE: Dispensing medications

Jo Brett — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 20:00:35 GMT

I have just come across this post. You may have already implemented change so not sure this will be useful, but for anyone else out there.

The BSAVA have a super user friendly guide to medicines: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/chapter/10.22233/9781905319862.app2

Ultimately the prescribing vet is responsible for their own prescribing, from the prescription, dispensing (inc. labelling), and handing over to the client. Having responsibility does not mean they have to carry out every stem for them selves but it does mean that they need to be satisfied that anyone doing in on their behalf is trained and competent.

The vet may feel they can not let go of this responsibility due to fear of something going wrong on their watch, or historical errors. This could be a personal thing or lack of trust amongst the team. It may be lack of standardised training and supporting protocols in the clinic that do not fulfil the vet with enough trust to relinquish any responsibility.

Normally there is a two person sign off, depending on your team size. We often had two clinically qualified people VS or RVN.

I would discuss with the vet about them doing an SOP on this. Perhaps suggest if they are not there then you need to ensure checks are properly completed by qualified people. Get them to be involved with the SOP so they can feel they are keeping a high level of checks.

RE: Dispensing medications

jenni99 — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:39:45 GMT

When practice standards came out they expected it,

RE: Dispensing medications

ellynoonoo — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:36:50 GMT

Not sure but at our practice the vets authorise ( ie put in clinical notes ) that the patient can have px for x amount of time and an rvn can dispense it as long as it’s prescribed under the vets name. We double sign all our meds but can be a rvn or vet and one other person. Our receptionists/pcas make up the meds and have them double signed.