While hospital care for cancer patients is well-documented, the manufacturing of chemotherapy drugs often takes place out of public sight. The pharmacy aseptic team at the University Hospital of North Tees operates a precise, sterile process to create bespoke medication for patients.
Led by Associate Chief Pharmacist Wetherill, the team of ten pharmacists, technicians and assistants produces 280 chemotherapy doses each week. Because these drugs are highly sensitive and sometimes have a shelf life as short as 30 minutes, they are manufactured on-demand following a consultant's prescription.
The preparation process is strictly regulated. Staff must wear sterile scrubs and gloves, while the drug vials undergo decontamination via an airlock system. Operators mix the compounds within laminar flow cabinets, ensuring a sterile environment that is constantly monitored for air pressure and microbial presence.
The unit uses highly advanced equipment and expensive chemical compounds to ensure the exact dosage for every patient. Petri dishes are even sent for analysis to confirm the environment remains free of germs throughout the mixing process.
The pharmacy aseptic team at North Tees serves patients throughout the region, providing a critical service for cancer .
Archive : This story is based on reporting originally published by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust on 2020-01-10. The original source image has been and credited.