Pharmacy type
Community
Pharmacy context
Located next door to the local GP practice, the pharmacy provided services to a mixed population in a village setting. Activity is 5000 to 6000 items per month, with 100 Care Home patients; 36 Monitored Dosage System patients and 7 Methadone patients. Other services provided include Chronic Medication Service (CMS); Minor Ailments Service and Smoking cessation.
Relevant standards
- 1.8 - Children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded
Why this is notable practice
Safeguarding vulnerable individuals is embedded in pharmacy services.
How the pharmacy did this
All staff had completed safeguarding training so that concerns could be effectively referred and local contact details were available so that timely referrals could be made if needed. Staff had identified their vulnerable groups including Methadone patients and there were examples of when concerns had been raised and patients referred. Staff had been alerted to the presence of ‘street’ Diazepam and when one of their Methadone patients presented with a blue mouth they had contacted the community addictions team straight away to ensure appropriate support was provided.
What difference this made to patients
Staff have a good level of awareness of current safeguarding issues and are know how to make appropriate referrals to ensure patients receive the specialist support that they require.
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: