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Posted By Dave Todd
Today I carried out a Risk Assessment on a dispensing pharmacy which is incorporated into a brand new group medical practice. The pharmacy has an area of 1000sqft, including the dispensary area of 200sqft, and employs Eight people for Ten hours per day. The pharmacy has a glass panel frontage and access is via twin glass panel doors hinged to open/close in both directions.
This also acts as the egress.
In other words there is no back door!
The structure meets current building regulations, and therefore, presumably, fire regulations, yet is in contravention of MHSWR'99 8(2)(b).
There is a moderate risk of staff being victim to aggressive behaviour or violence from Methadone users who visit the premises frequently to receive oral medication under visual supervision. In order to escape this situation, staff would have to walk past the aggressor in order to reach safety. This could place them in greater danger. Or, retreat to the dispensing area where they would be trapped.
Would an emergency exit, ie. a new back door built into the dispensary area be wise advice in this situation?
The new door would open inwards, and lead into a corridor joining doctors' consulting rooms from which the main reception area or fire escape could be quickly reached.
I'd appreciate any comments or advice please..............................
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Alexis B
Hi Dave
I've advised on similar situations in the past. Although I recollect there was a rear entrance, in practice the 'service users' were separated from reception staff by the dispensing area itself. Whilst you say staff would be trapped presumably there is more than one person working there? And is there a panic button in that area to summon assistance? How quickly would help from more senior staff arrive? Being trapped temporarily in a safe area will be far preferable to walking past an aggressive person! You will probably find the service users have signed up to a code of practice with a sign prominently displayed informing them that the service will be withdrawn should they display violent/abusive behaviour. In my experience this was fairly effective and the drugs weren't dished out arbitrarily they were conditional upon counselling and improvement. I would also expect at least some of the staff to be trained in recognising and forestalling aggressive behaviour and dealing with it. Having the methodone withdrawn is a pretty good incentive to most to behave.
Hope this is of some help
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