Quality

Quality standards and controls are fundamental in pharmacy and medicines control. Pharmaceutical services in each BMI Healthcare hospital are

• Either under the direct control of its own pharmacists who are registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

• Or under formal arrangements made with an appropriate third party such as an NHS Hospital Pharmacy Department.

Whether or not the pharmacy service is under the direct control of one of our hospitals, we operate to the strictest codes and standards of regulation, quality, safety and best practice:

• In line with UKCC's Guidelines for the administration of medicines (October 2000), all medicines are administered by a medical practitioner or a registered nurse against a valid order

• Our pharmaceutical management processes ensure that all medicines are procured, stored, dispensed and administered in accordance with the Medicines Act 1968 and in line with professional guidelines, using licensed products wherever possible

• Controlled Drugs are dealt with in compliance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Health Act 2006

• The pharmaceutical arrangements of all hospitals are inspected locally by Health Care Commission Inspectors to ensure adherence to regulations regarding Medicine Management

• Pharmacy Departments undertaking Aseptic Dispensing do so in compliance with MHRA guidelines and the principles identified in EL(97)52. All procedures are validated and routinely inspected by Regional Quality Control Pharmacists.

• An established internal emergency communication chain links all hospitals to all safety notices and drug withdrawals

• We actively participate in national reporting procedures for any adverse occurrences related to medicines to support continuous monitoring and learning throughout the sector

• Routine internal audits continue to test compliance against internal and external quality standards and external auditors

• Report from internal audits are provided to the hospital and reviewed at regional and national level to provide action and learning points as part of continuous improvement of services throughout the group.