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
The pharmacy has seen a large increase in demand for its home delivery service due to people staying at home. And the pharmacy’s delivery drivers are self-isolating. It is working collaboratively with other organisations to increase the amount of home deliveries that it can make.
How the pharmacy did this
There had been a large increase in demand for the delivery service and two of the three delivery drivers working from the pharmacy were self-isolating. So, they had called on a voluntary delivery service offered through the pharmacy's buying group.
The buying group had set up a delivery service in partnership with a multi-national company that was a ‘non-essential business’. Team members from the multi-national company with a company delivery van had been asked if they would consider delivering medicines during the pandemic. The superintendent pharmacist had considered the risks associated with using the service. And felt comfortable using the volunteer drivers as they had been appropriately trained by the buying group and had been DBS checked for their usual jobs. There were standard operating procedures in place which were being followed. And the new arrangement was working well.
The pharmacy had identified that they required additional support for three days a week. This along with support from its regular delivery driver was meeting demand.
What difference this made to patients
The pharmacy is able to meet the demand for deliveries. And people continue to receive their medicine on time, without needing to leave their homes.
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: