Accrington Late Night Pharmacy (9011179)

Inspection summary findings

Principle 1. Governance

The pharmacy has procedures in place to identify and manage risks to its services. But, it hasn’t reviewed some of the written procedures for over two years. And, not all pharmacy team members have read the procedures relevant to their roles. So, they may not be working in a consistent and most effective way. Pharmacy team members know how to keep people’s information secure. And they know what to do if there is a concern about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult. The pharmacy keeps the records required by law. Pharmacy team members record and discuss mistakes that happen. They use this information to learn and make changes to help prevent similar mistakes happening again. But they don’t always discuss or record enough detail about why these mistakes happen. So, they may miss opportunities to improve.

Principle 2. Staff

The pharmacy team members have the right qualifications and skills for their roles and the services they provide. Pharmacy team members only complete ad-hoc training but they learn from the pharmacist to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. They reflect on their own performance. And, they make changes to improve the way they do things. Pharmacy team members do not always establish and discuss specific causes of mistakes. This means they may miss chances to learn from errors and make changes to make things safer. The pharmacy team members can discuss issues and act on ideas to support the delivery of services.

Principle 3. Premises

The pharmacy is generally maintained to the required standards. But, some floor space and benches are cluttered and untidy. It provides a suitable space for the health services provided. And the pharmacy has a room where people can speak to pharmacy team members privately.

Principle 4. Services, including medicines management

The pharmacy is accessible to people and it manages its services safely and effectively. It stores, sources and manages its medicines safely. But, pharmacy team members don’t always keep medicines in the original packs or label these stock medicines correctly. So, they may not know if these medicines expire or are recalled. The pharmacy team members dispense medicines into devices to help people remember to take them correctly. They provide information with these devices to help people know when to take their medicines and to identify what they look like. The team takes some steps to identify people taking high-risk medicines. And it provides them with some advice. But the team don’t always have written information for people to take away. So, people may not have all the information they need to help them take their medicines safely.

Principle 5. Equipment and facilities

The pharmacy has the necessary equipment available, which it properly maintains. And it manages and uses the equipment in ways that protect confidentiality.