Reviewing the way pharmacy services are managed during the COVID-19 pandemic

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

​COVID-19

Relevant standards

• 1.1 - The risks associated with providing pharmacy services are identified and managed

Why this is notable practice

The pharmacy team is working to new hygiene and cleanliness standards in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pharmacy has considered the risks associated with providing its services during the pandemic and has processes in place to support it in continuing to deliver services efficiently and safely.

How the pharmacy did this

All team members were pausing work on the hour, every hour to wash their hands. This was in addition to ‘as required’ handwashing. Every second hour team members were thoroughly cleaning work benches. The pharmacy was individually risk assessing people who received their medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs. They notified the prescriber and when appropriate they were sending out more than one week at a time to reduce the impact on the delivery service. A member of the pharmacy owner’s family was totally avoiding contact with other people by staying at home. This was in case there was a need for an additional delivery driver. Or to cover in the event that the delivery driver needed to self-isolate. The pharmacy had installed a two metre barrier against its medicine counter. This helped to support social distancing. It also had a Perspex screen between the public area and staff area. The pharmacy was using social media to communicate messages to local community groups. This information included changes to the way it was working and opening hours.

What difference this made to patients

The pharmacy is continually reviewing how it is delivering its services during the pandemic. And all team members are working together to ensure people continue to receive their medicines in a safe and efficient way.