How to ensure proper storage in pharmacy?

4 Aug

To fit out and run an efficient pharmacy service, there is a selection of non-negotiables that need to be in place before you can begin to handle and store medicines or therapeutic treatments.

Without them, your staff cannot ensure medicine storage is safe and run the risk of passing on less potent, damaged, or expired medication to vulnerable patients – running the risk of negligence claims.

So, what is needed as a minimum to store medicines safely?

We would recommend the following pharmacy storage solutions:

Pharmacy fridges
CRT (Controlled Room Temperature) storage – also called medical cold rooms
CD- CRT cabinets
Lead-lined pharmacy refrigerators

Pharmacy fridges

As the name implies, a pharmacy refrigerator stores medications in a cabinet similar to a domestic fridge.

Both domestic refrigerators and pharmacy fridges should also be set at about +5°C, with an ideal range of +2°C to +5°C – which ensures the preservation of medication. However, pharmacy fridges are special in that they have several improvemnts over a domestic fridge. Domestic fridges must never be used for storage of medicines in a clinical setting.

A range of medications can be stored in pharmacy refrigerator storage, usually on wire shelves in individual baskets or boxes. These differ from pharmacy to pharmacy but generally include:

Therapeutic liquids, including Nebuliser solutions, anti-rejection medications and wound care essentials.
Drops for the eyes and ears.
Specialist medications, including those intended for patients living with cancer or HIV/ AIDS.
Reconstituted antibiotics.
Injectables, including insulins and immune system medications.
Vaccines of all kinds.

If looking for a pharmacy fridge, only consider models that have the following:

Lockable doors
Visual and audible alarms to notify staff of temperature changes
Recorded temperature memory to assist with filling in legally compliant paperwork
The option of glazed door models for more effective stock-taking without the need to open doors and affect internal temperatures.

CRT (Controlled Room Temperature) storage

Also referred to as medical cold rooms or room temperature fridges, CRT storage offers a temperature-controlled environment for the storage of medicines, ointments, and lotions that should be stored below +25°C.

Although a considerably warmer environment than a pharmacy fridge, the temperature range of medicine cold storage is equally as important and can be harder to maintain thanks to several factors, including:

Room position – the room’s position and layout can affect the temperature unknowingly. Factors like south-facing windows, poor air circulation, and over-filled spaces.
Central heating – as the seasons get colder, more often users will use heating options like fan heaters, radiators, and space heaters.
Physical location – buildings in the North of England will be naturally cooler than those in the South.
The weather – natural events like snowstorms, harsh winters, and heatwaves will have a knock-on effect on ambient temperatures.
The age of the building – newer premises will be better insulated and include extra protection to maintain comfortable room temperatures.

Instead of installing expensive and disruptive air conditioning, you can ensure correct storage for medicines with a CRT cabinet.

With temperature alarms, glazed doors for easy stock-taking, and quiet internal fans that ensure fast temperature recovery once the doors are opened, you will be sure that your ambient medications are kept correctly at the right temperature.

CD- CRT cabinets

A Controlled Drug (CD) CRT (Controlled Room Temperature) cabinet offers the safety of specific temperature pharmacy storage between +15°C and +25°C, with the added necessary legal control on storage needed for high-risk drugs.

Controlled drugs are split into four schedules, based on their risk of harm and the chance of their misuse, which can go on to cause problems with dependence and addiction.

Schedule 1 drugs are not generally carried by a pharmacy and include hallucinogenic drugs (e.g. LSD), ecstasy-type substances, raw opium, and cannabis.

Examples of controlled drugs that may be carried by a pharmacy include:

Schedule 2 – Ketamine, Diamorphine, Morphine, Methadone, and Fentanyl.
Schedule 3 – Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Midazolam, and Tramadol.
Schedule 4 – Diazepam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam, Zopiclone and Zolpidem.

The production, storage, prescription, and disposal of controlled drugs are very closely monitored – both legally and with in-house pharmacy policies and procedures - because of the increased risk for abuse and their high street value should they fall into the wrong hands.

As such, any CD CRT cabinet you purchase must include the relevant temperature controls and alarms, as well as security measures that make it compliant with the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973 and tamper-proof, etc. QED Scientific is the only UK company manufacturing CRT cabinets for storing controlled drugs. We have also manufactured underbench cabinets for refrigerated controlled drugs.

Lead-lined pharmacy refrigerator enclosures

Although not common in all pharmacies, lead-lined fridge enclosures are considered essential for establishments that handle radiopharmaceuticals, tagged biologicals, and other radioactive or nuclear materials.

Delivered flat packed for easy assembly on-site, ideal for positioning anywhere convenient, from below pharmacy medication shelving to the bottom of a lockable cupboard for extra security.

Models offer a range of benefits, including:

Handy design allows for existing pharmacy fridges and freezers to slot right inside – allowing you to re-use existing pharmacy equipment
Varied levels of shielding – from 3mm to 50mm
Lockable doors for extra security
Internal extractor fan and power point for easy equipment installation

Contact QED Scientific for effective pharmacy storage

Stocking or restocking your pharmacy storage solutions can be time-consuming and complex – especially if your facility handles a wide range of medications.

Speak to the experts at QED Scientific - our experience and a vast range of pharmacy storage options means you can tick off your to-do list and access industry-leading advice in one fell swoop.

For specific advice or to ask any questions, send us an email or give us a call today and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.