Holden’s Chemist Express (1115447) - Improvement action plan

The pharmacy does not store all of its medicines in a neat and orderly manner. Some medicines with similar names are stored together due to storage arrangements being untidy and in some cases different strengths of the same medicines are stored together. This increases the risk of a dispensing incident occurring. Some medicines are not stored within the manufacturer's original packaging so information such as expiry dates are not available to pharmacists when checking, to assure themselves that the medicine remains safe to supply.

Supermarket style shelf dividers to be used to divide high risk medication.

The branch supervisor will carry out weekly shelf inspections, with findings logged and shared with management.

A designated deputy will be assigned to cover this responsibility during the supervisor’s absence.

A renewed emphasis will be placed during performance reviews on the importance of maintaining Standard 4.3. Staff will be re-briefed on their responsibility to ensure safe storage practices, and where repeated non-compliance is identified, appropriate performance management procedures will be followed.

We have already deployed highly visible LASA stickers in strategic locations on the pharmacy
shelving. This was done last week of May. Photograph provided to inspector as evidence.

The May SI newsletter also informed the staff that LASA stickers are to be stuck onto tokens when labelling as appropriate.