Pharmacy type
Community
Pharmacy context
Located next door to the local GP practice, the pharmacy provided services to a mixed population in a village setting. Activity is 5000 to 6000 items per month, with 100 Care Home patients; 36 Monitored Dosage System patients and 7 Methadone patients. Other services provided include Chronic Medication Service (CMS); Minor Ailments Service and Smoking cessation.
Relevant standards
- 1.1 - The risks associated with providing pharmacy services are identified and managed
- 2.1 - There are enough staff, suitably qualified and skilled, for the safe and effective provision of the pharmacy services provided
Why this is notable practice
The pharmacy team are able to effectively plan the level of staffing and skills mix required to deliver the services offered by means of a model day approach, with set time standards for different activities.
How the pharmacy did this
The regular pharmacist was on annual leave and a regular locum who was familiar with the staff and pharmacy processes was providing cover. An arrangement was in place so that the responsible pharmacist and the Accredited Checking Technician (ACT) could not be off at the same time and staff were required to submit annual leave requests well in advance. Staffing levels had remained stable however a new trainee dispenser had been recruited to provide relief cover across the area and was based in the pharmacy one day per week and was being supported by the ACT. There was no external staff cover provided and staff re-arranged the model day so that tasks were prioritised and staff re-adjusted their working day, for example the responsible pharmacist labelled prescriptions. Time standards were in operation, for example staff knew that ten and a half hours were available to assemble and check 12 Monitored Dosage System patients week and this also supported staff to effectively plan the model day. A large wipe-clean board had been introduced by the ACT and was regularly updated so that model day changes were visible. All of the staff had been trained and accredited to work on the medicines counter and in the dispensary and this provided flexibility.
What difference this made to patients
Patients are more likely to be able to receive the services that they require as the pharmacy staff work flexibly according to agreed standards.
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: