Pharmacy type
Community
Pharmacy context
COVID-19
Relevant standards
- 2.4 - There is a culture of openness, honesty and learning
Why this is notable practice
The pharmacy is part of a WhatsApp group with membership consisting of all pharmacies within a small geographical area. The group allows pharmacies to work together and support each other. All the pharmacies within the group are sharing information with each other in a quick, easy and secure way.
How the pharmacy did this
Since creating the group, the pharmacies have actively shared information to make sure that every pharmacy within the area was up-to-date with changes. This had included information about how pharmacies could pack-down and appropriately label packs of 100 paracetamol into 30’s. And this had allowed pharmacies to continue selling paracetamol during stock shortages of over-the-counter packs. Information about which wholesalers had stock in was shared through the group. This had meant pharmacies had been able to work together to purchase larger quantities of hand sanitiser for their customers. This purchasing arrangement was not available individually. Pharmacies had also shared details of ways they were limiting the number of people going into the pharmacy at any given time. And how they were keeping people two metres apart. The group also shared the latest guidance, posters and ideas on how to keep the pharmacy team and people visiting the pharmacy safe.
What difference this made to patients
People are kept safe when visiting the pharmacy because of the wider learning and shared experiences being posted in the WhatsApp group. People are able to get medicines and essential supplies of healthcare products through the pharmacies working together.
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: