Friday's Evening Telegraph and Saturday's Courier covered concerns about the transportation of drugs on the 333 bus service that runs between Perth Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital.I had raised concerns with Professor Tony Wells and have received the following response :
"Thank you for your e-mail of 27 May 2010 regarding the transportation of controlled drugs via the Service 333 Hospital Link Bus.
I wish to advise you that following the recent extension of the bus route to include Royal Victoria Hospital, ad hoc pharmacy requests for items required outwith the scheduled delivery service are being transported via this method. Controlled drugs are not included in the items that are to be sent via this method of transport. I do however understand that when this service commenced there was one occasion when a controlled drug was sent to Royal Victoria Hospital along with a number of other pharmacy items. This was an error and measures have been put in place to ensure this will not occur in the future. The use of the bus to transport goods is seen as good use of an existing resource and a way of avoiding unnecessary expenditure. Any goods placed on and removed from the bus are carried out by NHS Tayside staff, with the goods being transported in a locked compartment."
I have responded as follows :
"I have concerns that any drugs are being transported by public transport and would ask what risk assessment has been carried out in this respect? What guidelines exist within the NHS in Scotland with respect to the transportation of drugs and do these clarify good practice in relation to transportation by public transport? Can I ask if the “locked compartment” is a static and unmovable part of the bus or is it a portable unit? Is it out of reach of a child? Can I also seek assurances that there is a responsible person of staff accompanying the transportation and that there are adequate security arrangements?"
I will update residents when I receive answers to these questions.