Five Causes of Stock Wastage
1: Over ordering of stock.
Do not order 100 packs if only 10 packs are used in a month. The tied up capital
may be greater than the extra discount.
2: Unwise bulk purchases.
Use the stock usage facility on your computer or wholesaler monthly
usage books to ensure you are not over ordering.
3: Allowing stock to go out-of-date.
Check dates regularly, list short date items and ensure everyone is aware of them.
4: Forgetting to check the nurse’s cupboards and shelves.
The same rules apply here as in the dispensary.
However, the nurse’s room may be where the emergency injectables are kept, so an
exception must be made here no matter how rarely they are used i.e for emergency
injectables stock must be held on site even though it may move slowly or be expensive.
And don’t forget to check the dates of any emergency injectables too.
5: Stocking identical products from different manufacturers.
Don’t forget to ensure you have comprehensive SOPs that cover stock control, ordering
and expiry date protocol! In the near future, Dispex members will have access to the
following SOPS…………
QUALITY CONTROL
QC1- Ordering & Storage of Medication
Under development
QC2-Stock Control, Cleaning Shelves & Expiry Dates
Under development
QC3-Disposal of Medication
Under development
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are defined as, “detailed written instructions to achieve
uniformity of the performance of a specific function” and are ideally suited for use in the dispensary.
Standard Operating Procedures in dispensing practice are a clinical governance issue, and while their
use is not yet mandatory, their adoption will undoubtedly improve patient safety. SOPs must be
reviewed and updated at least once every 12 months and whenever dispensing procedures are amended.
Our templates provide a guideline based on DSQS Minimum Requirements. You will need to tailor and
adapt the content to your own circumstances and adjust each one to reflect the way your own Dispensary
operates.
