Pharmacy type
Community
Pharmacy context
COVID-19
Relevant standards
- 4.1 - The pharmacy services provided are accessible to patients and the public
Why this is notable practice
The pharmacy is working jointly with other pharmacies and surgery teams to help ensure people can have their prescriptions dispensed at any pharmacy, should the pharmacy have to close or does not have an item in stock.
How the pharmacy did this
The pharmacy was part of a local initiative which involved surgeries sending text messages to patient’s. The text messages contained the barcode of their prescription. People presented the barcode at the pharmacy. And team members used the barcode to obtain the electronic prescription from the NHS spine. The pharmacy then dispensed the prescription or signposted the person to another pharmacy in the event stock was not available and the medicine was required urgently. It also meant if a pharmacy was closed, and the prescription was available on the NHS spine another pharmacy could find the prescription through the Electronic Prescription Service and dispense it.
What difference this made to patients
This is an innovative way of making sure that people can get their medicines from any pharmacy in the area, if their regular pharmacy has had to close.
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: