Rivers Hospital Pharmacy – New Aseptic Reconstitution
Suite
The treatment of cancer using medicines continues to
dominate research, drives our understanding of the biology of the
disease and influences oncology practice. Important breakthroughs
in our understanding of the disease process has contributed to the
development of new, often more toxic and more targeted
therapies.
These new therapies, which are often carcinogens and mutagens,
will generate challenges for those healthcare workers who prepare
and administer these agents and care for patients during active
treatment.
The Pharmacy at the Rivers Hospital has, as part of wider
hospital development, upgraded the reconstitution facilities to
bring the aseptic unit within the footprint of the main pharmacy,
provide increased space to accommodate two negative pressure
isolators – once of which is a new Envair CDC ‘F’ isolator
externally ducted to improve operator safety. Increased floor and
bench space will facilitate increases in capacity in a safe and
efficient manner. The upgrade has permitted the introduction of new
modern air handling plant, with the capacity to cope with future
demands, and to provide the required quality environment to EU
standards - Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice (EU GGMP) Grade B
with Grade A in the critical zone. A facilities monitoring system
provides continuous data regarding ambient room temperature,
humidity, air flow, room pressures and refrigerator
temperatures.
There now exists a consensus view that
the reconstitution of cytotoxic drugs should be restricted to
controlled and validated environments. Pharmacy operated units
should be regarded the optimum approach to ensure both staff safety
and product quality at the point of administration to the
patient.
Further information