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
There is an increase in requests for home deliveries due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the pharmacy team have identified a suitable external provider that can make deliveries on their behalf and increase the capacity of the home delivery service.
How the pharmacy did this
The pharmacy manager had organised with the manager of the dial-a-ride service at the local hospital and arranged for the drivers to deliver prescriptions for the pharmacy which increased the number of home deliveries the pharmacy could make each day. The dial-a-ride drivers usually helped transport elderly and vulnerable people to services, such as hospital outpatient appointments. But as non-essential hospital services had been reduced, they had spare capacity. The drivers had already been trained in safeguarding vulnerable groups and were Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked.
What difference this made to patients
Elderly and vulnerable patients are effectively supported and receive their medicines on time. The dial-a-ride service is adding extra capacity to the home delivery service and supports people to follow social distancing guidance.
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: