Pharmacy type
Community
Pharmacy context
COVID-19
Relevant standards
- 4.2 - Pharmacy services are managed and delivered safely and effectively
Why this is notable practice
This small pharmacy was finding it difficult to maintain social distancing at the healthcare counter during the COVID-19 outbreak. It reviewed its processes and it is now ensuring that people enter the pharmacy one at a time and that they spend the minimum possible time in the pharmacy
How the pharmacy did this
The pharmacist was encouraging people to phone the pharmacy before visiting, so that the pharmacy staff could check whether their prescription was ready. Pharmacy team members used this phone call to enquire whether the patient was likely to require any other items. They then advised the patient of a suitable time to visit so that they could give them their prescription and where needed other item(s) as soon as they arrived. The aim was to minimise the length of time people were inside the pharmacy and to avoid wasted journeys.
What difference this made to patients
People are given their prescription quickly with minimal waiting, and they only need to leave home to visit the pharmacy once.
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: