"Specials" manufacture in the N.H.S.

Abstract

Over the past 30 years there has been a vast change in the manufacture of "specials" within the National Health Service. From being primitive, badly equipped units situated in the basement of nearly all hospitals, N.H.S. production units have changed to purpose built, hi-tech units licensed by the Medicines Control Agency, providing a fast, efficient and validated "specials" service. Although non-profit making organisations, N.H.S. Production units have to be self-financing. Thus staff costs, overheads and replacement of equipment must be financed by sales. Production pharmacists in the N.H.S. are now working together to rationalise the product list within their units. Certain units have taken over the role of national supplier for items and instead of duplicating effort, other units will buy from them.