Error reduction in blister packaging apparatus

Apparatus for loading blisters of a blister sheet with doses of prescribed medications to be administered to a patient, including:

• software for storing a first bar code providing patient-specific data giving the identity of the patient and the nature of and quantity of prescribed medication doses to be administered;
• equipment for printing a header sheet displaying the first bar code and which is to be applied to the blister sheet after it has been loaded with the prescribed medications;
• containers respectively for storing medication doses of a particular type required by the patient;
• a second bar code associated with each container and signifying the medication doses it contains;
• a bar code reader identifying from the second bar code the selection of the container from which a prescribed medication dose is to be supplied;
• a comparator which responds to a failure of coincidence between the first bar code and the second bar code;
• a signal generator providing a fault signal if there is a failure of such coincidence;
• and, circuitry for preventing the loading of the blister package until a fault indicated by the signal generator has been rectified.