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Pharmacy inspections

Inspection reports and learning from inspections

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Working with multiple agencies to help plan a pharmacy-led COVID-19 vaccination site

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 works with multiple agencies when planning its approach to operating a pharmacy-led COVID-19 vaccination site. This demonstrates that the pharmacy is giving thorough consideration to providing a good and efficient service throughout the entire patient journey. And it is doing this ahead of the service going live.

How the pharmacy did this

The operational lead and clinical lead, who were both pharmacists had engaged with Primary Care Network (PCN) sites to seek support in identifying and managing risks associated with the service. The pharmacists were also part of a private regional social media messaging group, along with other pharmacy-led vaccination sites. This helped the sites share learning throughout the preparation process and the group was set to continue following the sites going live. The pharmacy’s associated premises were located in a village hall close to the registered pharmacy. In order to prepare for the service, it had engaged with a road safety charity who had conducted a site visit of the area. The charity had agreed to provide a marshal to help manage the flow of traffic and signpost people safely to the village hall. It had arranged for additional road signage to support flow of traffic into the site and had designated disabled parking bays next to the hall. The pharmacy had also engaged the support of a local business that had agreed to allow people to park in its car park when accessing the site for their vaccinations. The business had agreed to keep its flood lights on to help ensure the car park was safe to use when it was dark during afternoon and evening vaccination sessions. The pharmacy had also sought advice from the local police who had carried out a site visit to the hall. The police had advised on the security of the premises. This had helped the pharmacy and village hall owners with their security measures.

What difference this made to patients

The pharmacy is engaging with other pharmacies when setting up its COVID-19 vaccination service. And it is using the expertise of different agencies to support it in identifying and managing the risks associated with providing this new service. This means people can receive their vaccines safely and efficiently. This approach works to support the national roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

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