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Pharmacy inspections

Inspection reports and learning from inspections

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Adapting the vaccination patient journey by moving vaccinators between people to improve efficiency, rather than moving the people

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

​COVID-19

Relevant standards

  • 4.2 - Pharmacy services are managed and delivered safely and effectively

Why this is notable practice

The pharmacy has adapted the way people use the vaccination service to make it easier and more efficient. It has designed the service around the person being vaccinated by moving vaccinators between people waiting to be vaccinated rather than the other way around.

How the pharmacy did this

The vaccination site was an associated premises, a hall which was large and airy. The pharmacy had installed 21 numbered booths around the perimeter of the hall and vaccinators were allocated booths which they moved between. When their turn came people were directed to a booth where they could settle and remove any outer clothing before a vaccinator came to them. It meant that patients remained in one place instead of having to get up and move from one place to the next. And they had more time to remove their outer clothing before being vaccinated.

The pharmacy had four vaccinators, each accompanied by an administrative assistant. Each vaccinator and assistant had been provided with a mobile trolley containing everything they needed. This allowed them to move between their allocated booths. The assistant was responsible for entering the person’s details on the computer, while the vaccinator completed the clinical assessment, obtained informed consent and administered the vaccine. The team then moved on to the next booth to repeat the process. After the vaccinator and assistant had moved to the next booth a marshal would check that the person felt OK before showing them to the exit at the rear where there was another marshal to direct them out.

The pharmacy had a cleaning rota in place with chairs and touch points regularly wiped down. The pharmacy had three hand sanitiser stations and people were prompted by marshals to use them at each point. Each vaccination booth contained only a chair. The pharmacy had ensured that there was nothing else for people to touch in each booth. Every booth was given a thorough clean at the end of each half-day session. And contract cleaners cleaned the whole premises at the end of the day. Team members wore the appropriate PPE which they changed regularly. Vaccinators sanitised their hands in between each person and other team members sanitised their hands regularly.

What difference this made to patients

People can wait in a vaccination booth to get ready for their vaccination. The vaccinator comes to them which helps to make them feel that the service is centred on them rather than that they are being put through a process. People feel that they are being attended to, and they not kept waiting.

Highlighted standards

We have identified the standards most likely and least likely to be met in inspections, and highlighted examples of notable practice for each of these standards; to help everyone learn from others and to support continuous improvement:

  1. 1.1 Risk management
  2. 1.2 Reviewing and monitoring the safety of services
  3. 4.2 Safe and effective service delivery
  4. 4.3 Sourcing and safe, secure management of medicines and devices
  5. 2.2 Staff skills and qualifications