Continuity of care

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

This is a community pharmacy based in large health centre. The team dispenses in the region of 4,500 NHS items and a small quantity of private prescriptions per month and offers a range of services including both private and NHS influenza vaccinations, head lice treatment, minor ailments, smoking cessation, medicines use reviews (MURs), new medicines service (NMS) and Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS) . Services are provided to a varied and predominantly elderly population with a range of chronic health care needs.

Relevant standards

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

Why this is notable practice

There is an established process for communicating key information to pharmacy staff starting later shifts to ensure continuity of services.

How the pharmacy did this

A staff handover sheet had been developed by the team to communicate information between different staff members on different days. The sheet was displayed on a noticeboard in the dispensary and was accessible for all to see. It detailed information regarding the safe and effective running of the pharmacy to pass on to other colleagues on a different shift. This proved a very effective way of communicating particularly with part-time staff.

What difference this made to patients

Patients receive continuity of care as staff change according to shift patterns.