Improved hygiene practices during the Covid-19 pandemic

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

​COVID-19

Relevant standards

• 1.1 - The risks associated with providing pharmacy services are identified and managed

Why this is notable practice

The pharmacy has put in additional processes to support good hygiene practices during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has established processes to ensure people who are self-isolating are identified.

How the pharmacy did this

The team were cleaning all of the pharmacy’s surfaces regularly and every evening. Each team member wore different clothes to work each day and ensured all clothes from the previous day were washed before being worn again. Pharmacy team members were flagging people’s medication records with the wording ‘self-isolating’ when they became aware of this. This printed out onto the delivery label which allowed the delivery drivers to ensure they did not come into direct contact with people who were self-isolating. The pharmacist had spoken to a local GP surgery who had been referring more people to the pharmacy for advice. The pharmacist encouraged the GP to ask people to ring for telephone advice to help limit the number of people coming into the premises. And he had reminded the GP to be clear that anyone that displayed any of the symptoms associated with coronavirus should not visit the pharmacy in person.

What difference this made to patients

The pharmacy’s extra vigilance means its team members are less likely to be affected by the virus. So, they can continue providing much needed and essential services to the local population.