Dispensing-log anonymisation is the removal of patient and staff IDs from a fill register. It meets DPA 2018 and the NHS Code of Confidentiality. anonym.plus runs locally and keeps the medicine, quantity, and fill timing for audit work.
When this applies
A fill register lists many patients with names, dates, and staff initials. For a dispensing audit, you clear those IDs but keep the quantities and timing.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Load the register into anonym.plus on your device.
- It finds patient and pharmacist names plus IDs.
- Fill dates and contacts get flagged across each line.
- Confirm the flags; the medicine and count stay as non-IDs.
- Black out items for audits, or swap them for analysis.
- Save the clean file; the source stays on your machine.
What you need to provide
- The register (CSV, PDF, DOCX, or system export).
- A column map for known ID fields.
- An operator (Redact for audit copies).
Patient data entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | patient column → [PATIENT_n] |
| Names | PERSON | pharmacist initials → [STAFF] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | filled 03/05 → [DATE] |
| Record IDs | MEDICAL_RECORD_NUMBER | fill no. 7741 → [FILL_ID] |
| Location | LOCATION | branch 14 → [SITE] |
| Identifiers | NHS_NUMBER | 485 777 3456 → [NHS_NUMBER] |
Compliance achieved
- Meets DPA 2018 & NHS Code of Confidentiality for reuse.
- Keeps the medicine and quantity, which are not patient identifiers.
- Offline work keeps the register inside your pharmacy.
Anonymise dispensing logs offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
These registers are very tabular. Check that the initials and signature columns are mapped, since staff initials are easy to miss yet name a person. The medicine and count stay and are not treated as identifiers.
Frequently asked questions
Are pharmacist initials personal data?
Yes. Initials and signatures name the staff member who filled the order, so they are removed. The medicine and quantity entries stay.
Can I keep the quantities?
Yes. The medicine, count, and timing stay, so the register is still useful for an audit.
Does it read CSV exports?
Yes. Tidy CSV columns and printed registers are both supported, all on your own device.