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 provides assurances to people and to its team members, that its consultation room can be used safely. This means it is able to reintroduce many of its services confidently, including a flu vaccination service. It conducts a thorough assessment of the risks to the people accessing these services and to its team members. And it has measures in place to keep them safe.
How the pharmacy did this
The pharmacy had undertaken a number of activities to ensure that it could provide services safely using its consultation room. This included the seasonal flu vaccination service. The pharmacy had conducted an online occupational risk assessment process for its team members. It had also conducted a thorough business risk assessment and had documented the risks and mitigations involved with providing a service from a consultation room. It had done this after taking legal advice. And advice from trade unions and primary authorities. It had then briefed all of its team members. This information was then published on its intranet.
After conducting its risk-assessment the pharmacy had introduced a consultation room checklist. And it had installed a tall, movable plastic screen. Team members had been briefed on the correct installation, positioning and use of the screen. During consultations people were required to sit on one side of the screen with the pharmacist on the other. And when a vaccine was being administered people were required to face away from the pharmacist administering it and the screen. The pharmacy had also introduced a checklist instructing team members how to clean between appointments, what personal protective equipment to wear and when to change it, as per national guidance. The pharmacy had also created an online booking system to minimise contact time with people. Team members also had access to an up-to-date procedure for administering a vaccination.
What difference this made to patients
People can access the pharmacy’s services safely when using the consultation room. And they can do this in a way which reduces the level and time of contact with pharmacy team members.
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: