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Pharmacy inspections

Inspection reports and learning from inspections

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Staff training and development

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

The pharmacy is located on a main road and is open Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm and is closed on Sundays. The pharmacy dispenses in the region of 4100 NHS prescription items per month and approximately 5-6 private prescriptions per month. The pharmacy provides a repeat prescription collection service to a designated list of vulnerable patients. A prescription delivery service is also available. Monitored Dosage System (MDS) trays are supplied to approximately 41 community patients. Additional services offered include Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), the New Medicine Service(NMS) and the Emergency Hormonal Contraceptive (EHC) service via PGD. The influenza vaccination is also available via both private and NHS PGD during the relevant vaccination season.

Relevant standards

  • 2.2 - Staff have the appropriate skills, qualifications and competence for their role and the tasks they carry out, or are working under the supervision of another person while they are in training

Why this is notable practice

Staff are provided with access to a structured programme of ongoing learning to help to maintain their knowledge and skills. Staff have regular development reviews to help to ensure that they are maintaining the knowledge and skills required for their roles.

How the pharmacy did this

Ongoing training for pharmacy staff was primarily delivered using an e-learning system. A number of mandatory training modules were in place such as information governance and fire safety. A new quarterly compliance test was in place for staff. Anyone who did not pass the compliance assessment was required to repeat the mandatory training. A number of 30-minute tutor modules were also released periodically. These covered over the counter conditions and treatments and self-assessment questions were in place to test staff understanding. A professional standard bulletin was also released via head office each month. This contained details of training updates and information as well as case studies which were based on reported errors for staff development. A drug of the month card provided staff with information on high risk medications. The pre-registration pharmacist completed modules released each month and then loaded them on the system for review by the regular pharmacist manager and the training co-ordinator. Training was also provided on new initiatives, including a new way of questioning and counselling staff regarding medication sales, which was cascaded to the team by the pharmacist.

Staff appraisals were held throughout the year, at least quarterly, to review performance against key indicators and monitor staff development.

What difference this made to patients

Quarterly testing of staff members compliance with procedures they have been trained in and personal self-assessments, supported by management reviews, help to ensure that patients receive the services they need safely.

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