Pharmacy type
Internet / Distance Selling
Pharmacy context
This is a distance selling pharmacy and it offers its services to people through its website. People cannot visit the pharmacy in person unless for a private service, such as a vaccination. A range of prescription-only medicines are available through an online prescribing service and these are delivered to people via a courier service.
Relevant standards
- 4.2 - Pharmacy services are managed and delivered safely and effectively
Why this is notable practice
Risk assessments are used to identify and manage the risks associated with supplying medication using the courier service. And by doing this the pharmacy mitigates the risks identified by introducing appropriate measures.
How the pharmacy did this
The pharmacy had completed a separate risk assessment for the use of the courier service before supplying prescription-only medicines from the prescribing service. For example, the pharmacy had identified the risks of delay or loss in medication and managed this by implementing a fully audited track and trace process. This enabled the pharmacy team to conduct an end of day exception report and proactively follow up any anomalies. And the courier service was monitored daily. The pharmacy managed the risk that medication might be damaged by placing medication in a cardboard postal box prior to being placed in a tamper proof bag.
What difference this made to patients
Patients can track the progress of their medication delivery and have the assurance that any issues will be promptly identified and addressed by the pharmacy. They receive their medication adequately packaged, so it is in good condition and fit to use.
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: