MedExpress Pharmacy (9011509) - Improvement action plan

The pharmacy does not follow its own risk assessments designed to protect people’s wellbeing. It does not adequately manage all the risks of people obtaining medicines which are not clinically appropriate. This includes treatments for weight loss, asthma and situational anxiety. And it has not fully considered and addressed the risks of bulk prescribing medicines largely by relying solely on an online questionnaire without getting further information from people.

We will investigate the possibility of using Summary Care Records for weight loss, asthma and situational anxiety medicines. By supplementing our current reviewing process with an automated intervention flagging system, we will ensure that orders will be reviewed by the clinical team and customers will be contacted to gain further information if need be. The prescribers will review all flagged orders individually.

The pharmacy cannot demonstrate that it seeks sufficient assurances from people requesting higher-risk medicines, including weight-loss treatments, and asthma treatments to make sure the medicines are clinically appropriate.
Its bulk prescribing process means there is limited individual input into a person’s care by prescribers.

We will investigate the possibility of using Summary Care Records for weight loss, asthma and situational anxiety medicines. By supplementing our current reviewing process with an automated intervention flagging system, we will ensure that orders will be reviewed by the clinical team and customers will be contacted to gain further information if need be. The prescribers will review all flagged orders individually.