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Pharmacy inspections

Inspection reports and learning from inspections

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Pharmacy team members extending a helping hand to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

​COVID-19

Relevant standards

  • 1.8 - Children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded

Why this is notable practice

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak the pharmacy has identified a novel way to support the most vulnerable people in their local community, who are likely to be in the government’s shielding programme. And who do not have friends and family to help.

How the pharmacy did this

The pharmacy team identified their most vulnerable patients and created a list of people to contact. They created the list from people that used the home delivery service, had multi-compartment compliance packs and from regular patients known to the team. The medicines counter assistant telephoned the people on the list to ask them how they were. She also asked if they had any family members, friends or neighbours who helped them to obtain groceries. For those who did not have anyone to help, the medicine counter assistant invited them to contact the pharmacy to arrange for them to deliver a few essential groceries with their next prescription. Two members of the team had changed their working hours due to child-care requirements. And were available to shop for groceries and visit the post office for people at certain times of the day.

What difference this made to patients

The most vulnerable people can receive medicines and other essentials without having to leave their own homes. They are less concerned about not getting essential items as they know the pharmacy team is supporting them when needed.

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