Greater uniformity in pharmacy checks of oncology prescriptions could be achieved across Britain with the recent publication of standards (January 2010) by the British Oncology Pharmacy Association.
The document describes what main steps a pharmacist should take when verifying that a prescription for an anticancer medicine is safe and correct. Project lead and author of the document Steve Williamson said: “In developing these standards we have recognised what is best practice for pharmacists involved with checking chemotherapy prescriptions.”
Mr Williamson, who is consultant pharmacist for North of England Cancer Network, explained: “Oncology medicines are not unique in being high risk. But, due to the complexity of systemic anticancer therapies, it is necessary to check treatment protocols and policies and to verify that dose calculations and patients’ clinical information are correct.
“This is something that any pharmacist checking a chemotherapy prescription should do. In some cases, pharmacists might need to undertake additional training or have the support of a specialist oncology pharmacist nearby,” Mr Williamson suggested.
He acknowledged that certain elements of the standards may at first be challenging for pharmacists to comply with because of how oncology services are set up. “For example,” he said, “it is not always easy for pharmacists to gain access to patient notes. However, by doing so we are ensuring quality and safety”.
Mr Williamson added: “The best part of the development process was the consultation period, during which we received many useful and insightful comments. What we have got through this dialogue is a document that reflects what BOPA members believe is good practice.”
David Thomson, BOPA chairman, told Clinical Pharmacist: “These standards are part of BOPA’s response to some of the challenges laid out in the 2008 National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death report entitled ‘For better, for worse?’, which suggested only around half of systemic anticancer therapy prescriptions were being checked by a pharmacist.”
He added: “We are in discussions to see if these standards can be included as part of broader national standards for chemotherapy services.”
BOPA’s “Standards for clinical pharmacy verification of prescriptions for cancer medicines” is available online
More detailed guidance to assist pharmacists in undertaking the steps set out in the standards is being developed and will be open for consultation shortly.
