Behind every box of tablets or bottle of medication dispensed at Beehive Vets is a careful and thorough process. Each repeat prescription goes through several checks to ensure it is safe, accurate, and ready for collection, giving our clients confidence that their pets are receiving exactly what they need.
Step 1: Requesting the Prescription
The process begins when a client contacts the practice to request a prescription. A member of staff takes the client’s details to locate their record and confirms which medication is required.
Once identified, the patient’s clinical history is reviewed to ensure there is a valid repeat prescription on file and to check whether any blood tests or review appointments are due.
Some medications require regular monitoring to check blood serum levels or to confirm that the patient is still receiving the correct dose. If everything is in order, the request is added to the repeat prescription list, ready for review and dispensing.
Step 2: Clinical Review and Stock Check
Throughout the day, the qualified veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons review the repeat prescription list. Each request is checked carefully against the patient’s record to confirm:
- The repeat prescription is valid
- The correct medication, strength, dose, and quantity are listed
Next, the pharmacy stock is checked to ensure the medication is available.
If the product is out of stock, it is ordered from the wholesalers. Certain prescription medications also require a requisition form, which must be completed and signed by a veterinary surgeon to confirm the medicine is for an animal under their care.
The wholesaler then delivers the order to the practice, usually the next working day.
Step 3: Receiving and Logging Deliveries
When new stock arrives, the delivery is signed for and checked against the delivery note to make sure all items are present and correct.
Each medication is then entered into the computer system, recording important details such as batch numbers and expiry dates. This ensures full traceability and accurate stock levels, allowing staff to know exactly what is available for dispensing.
Step 4: Dispensing the Medication
If the medication is already in stock, it is added to the patient’s account, and a dispensing label is printed. A replacement order is then placed to restock the item once it has been dispensed.
The receptionist or veterinary nurse prepares the medication by selecting the correct product and strength from the pharmacy and counting out the required quantity. Depending on the prescription, this may involve counting just a few tablets, or several hundred.
Each label is checked against the packaging to ensure the batch number and expiry date are correct. The person who dispenses the medication initials the label, which is then securely affixed to the pot or carton.
Step 5: Final Check and Approval
Before any medication leaves the pharmacy, it undergoes a final verification. Another member of staff checks the dispensed medication against the original prescription to confirm the correct medication, strength, and quantity.
Once confirmed, they countersign the label to complete the final safety check.
Step 6: Collection and Handover
Once the medication has passed all final checks, the reception team contacts the client to confirm that it is ready for collection.
When the client arrives at the practice, the receptionist verifies their name, address, and pet’s details to ensure the correct medication is being dispensed. The medication is then retrieved from the pharmacy and handed over to the client.
Before completing the handover, the receptionist checks that the client is confident in administering the medication and reminds them of any specific instructions, such as “to be given with food” or “administered at set intervals.” The dosage and frequency are also confirmed.
Finally, the receptionist completes the transaction by taking payment or processing the insurance paperwork, depending on what has been arranged in advance.
Your Trusted, Local Vet in Leeds
Looking for a practice that combines experience with genuine care? At Beehive Vets, we’re an independent, family-run team in Leeds, offering professional veterinary care delivered with warmth and understanding.
Contact us to learn more or book a visit.
