The Pharmacy (Preparation and Dispensing Errors – Hospital and Other Pharmacy Services) Order 2022, came into effect on 1st December 2022.
This legislation removes the threat of criminal sanctions for inadvertent dispensing errors in hospitals and other pharmacy settings such as prisons. The threat of criminal sanctions was removed for registered pharmacies in 2018.
Extending the defences to pharmacy professionals working in hospitals and other specified pharmacy services ensures parity across the profession.
This should improve patient safety by encouraging reporting of dispensing error and increasing learning opportunities.
Details of the changes can be found here.
5/12/22