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Pharmacy inspections

Inspection reports and learning from inspections

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Review of people receiving their medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs during the Covid-19 pandemic

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 reviewed its services. And it has completed an assessment of the risks associated with the supply of medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

How the pharmacy did this

In reviewing its services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic the pharmacy had identified risks associated with the supply of medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs during this time. The pharmacy had considered the amount of time taken to safely dispense a multi-compartment compliance pack compared with original pack dispensing. The increased pressure on its team members due to an increase in workload. And the potential for its team members to fall ill with the virus. In response to this review the pharmacy had begun to reassess people who received their medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs using The Disability Discrimination Act. It was obtaining patient consent to switch people back to original pack dispensing. And it had notified the care homes where medicines are supplied of the need to switch to original pack dispensing during the pandemic.

What difference this made to patients

The approach taken reduced workload pressure on pharmacy team members. This meant they were able to dedicate their time to providing other key services and information to people. It also reduced the risk of accidental contamination of the medicine during the dispensing process, should a team member be infected with the virus.

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:

  1. 1.1 Risk management
  2. 1.2 Reviewing and monitoring the safety of services
  3. 4.2 Safe and effective service delivery
  4. 4.3 Sourcing and safe, secure management of medicines and devices
  5. 2.2 Staff skills and qualifications