Background In our paediatric hospital, we have a ward-based model regarding the drug-handling process and few medicines are provided patient-specific from the pharmacy to the wards (excluding TPN and cytotoxic drugs). Medication errors are common in paediatrics and the reconstitution practice lack a standardised approach.

Purpose We have studied how the drug-handling process can be enhanced by a pharmacist with regards to reconstitution.

Material and methods During 2014 (May to October) two intervention departments, oncology and neonatal at a tertiary paediatric hospital, had pharmacist-assisted reconstitution as an intervention on weekdays. Nurse practitioners in these two departments, as well as two corresponding control departments, received surveys with specific questions regarding the intervention before and after the study period. Time spent with reconstitution in the medication room, the number of incident reports and documentation of additional interventions were also studied.

Results The before and after survey showed that both intervention departments had a high appreciation of the interventions, which increased significantly (*) during the study period, from 74% to 88%* (oncology) and 76% to 100%* (neonatal). Nurses did not see any change in the risk of new type of errors during the study period and no changes in types of reported incidents could be identified. The experienced reduction in stress increased from 65% to 95% (oncology) and 70% to 93%* (neonatal). The reported increases were not seen in the control departments. The time spent in the medication room was reduced for nurses by 2 hours/day. The additional practices by the pharmacist, in the form of education and investigative support, was an appreciated finding.

Conclusion The study provided support for the establishment of two permanent ward-based pharmacist services on the oncology and neonatal wards.

No conflict of interest