Church View Pharmacy (Pharmacy 365) (1116130) - Improvement action plan

The pharmacy does not adequately identify and manage the risks associated with its prescribing service. It cannot demonstrate that it has service specific risk assessments and prescribing policies for each of the conditions covered by its prescribing service. And there is no clear indication or evidence that health information provided by people during the consultation process is independently verified. This raises concerns about the clinical appropriateness and safety of the service.

Service specific risk assessment for each condition being prescribed have been created. This ensures all pre-screening is conducted correctly and safely. We are committed to robust antimicrobial stewardship, and antibiotics are prescribed only when strict clinical criteria are met, in full accordance with GPhC guidance on safe prescribing. For example, UTI dipstick testing may be used to support the assessment but is never the sole basis for diagnosis. Differential diagnoses such as STIs, Thrush, or Bacterial Vaginosis are always considered, with referrals made when appropriate. Unnecessary antibiotic use is actively avoided. Similarly, sore throat testing kits are available in the pharmacy to provide objective support when assessing the likelihood of streptococcal infection. These tools are used to strengthen, not replace, the pharmacist’s clinical judgement, ensuring that every prescribing decision is evidence-based, proportionate, and compliant with GPhC prescribing standards.

The pharmacy is unable to demonstrate that its prescribing service operates in a safe and effective manner. It cannot provide evidence that it verifies the identity or health information of individuals accessing the service, nor that it routinely informs patients' GPs or implements appropriate systems for monitoring, follow-up, or safety netting. Additionally, there is a lack of procedures to demonstrate effective antimicrobial stewardship and safeguard against the inappropriate use of antibiotics.

As part of the condition specific consultation templates, it will be made clear how health information is verified to ensure that all treatments patients may be receiving are confirmed (including those that may have been obtained from another pharmacy or healthcare provider, such as a hospital-based setting).
Prescribing is reviewed to ensure that it is within the prescribing policies outlined as part of the service and that antibiotics follow local formulary advice for the area.
Patient identity and consent are verified using multiple methods, including the Patient Medication Record (PMR), repeat prescription slips, and verbal confirmation. For exceptional or complex cases, the Summary Care Record (SCR) is accessed only with explicit patient consent. Most patients are long-standing users of our pharmacy, which supports continuity and monitoring of care. Consultation outcomes and private prescriptions are now consistently communicated to GP practices via a structured daily email system. In addition, we monitor ongoing care by reviewing repeat prescriptions and encouraging follow-up consultations where appropriate, ensuring both patient safety and continuity of care.

Safety netting is embedded as a core element of every consultation. Patients are provided with clear aftercare advice covering their treatment plan, expected outcomes, and possible side effects, along with instructions on when to seek further medical help. They are explicitly counselled on red flag symptoms that would require escalation to a GP, urgent care centre, or A&E. Where appropriate, patients are also advised on review timeframes and when to return to the pharmacy for reassessment. This structured approach ensures that patients are fully informed, supported, and safeguarded throughout their treatment journey.