Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 15/10/2020
Pharmacy context
This is an independent retail pharmacy located on a busy thoroughfare in central London, close to Marble Arch. It is open extended hours seven days a week including late evenings. The pharmacy sells over the counter medicines and it dispenses private prescriptions. The pharmacy works in close association with a private doctor who offers consultations. The pharmacy does have an NHS contract, but it supplies very few NHS prescriptions. Traditionally many of the people who visit the pharmacy are visitors from overseas, including a large number of Arabic speaking customers. The inspection was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy has written procedures, so the team members know how to complete tasks safely. It keeps the records it needs to by law, but some details are missing which could make it harder for the team to explain what has happened if a query arises. Pharmacy team members have a basic understanding of their role in protecting vulnerable people. And they keep people’s private information safe.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough staff to manage the workload. The team communicates openly and works well together. Pharmacy team members have access to appropriate training, but they don’t always complete this as quickly as they could do. This means they could delay developing some of the skills and knowledge that would benefit their role.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy is clean and suitable for the provision of healthcare. It has a consultation room to enable it to provide people with access to an area for private and confidential discussions, but this is not easily accessible to everyone.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy’s services are easily accessible as it is open extended hours. Overall, the pharmacy manages its services adequately, and the team sources and stores medicines appropriately so they are fit to supply.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment it needs to provide its services. Team members use the equipment in a way that protects people’s privacy.
What do the inspection outcomes mean?
After an inspection each pharmacy receives one overall outcome. This will be either Standards met or Standards not all met
| The pharmacy has met all the standards for registered pharmacies | |
| The pharmacy has not met one or more of the standards for registered pharmacies |
What do the summary findings for each principle mean?
The standards for registered pharmacies are made up of five principles. The pharmacy will also receive one of four possible findings for each of these principles. These are:
| The pharmacy delivers an innovative service and benefits the whole community and performs well against the standards | |
| The pharmacy delivers positive outcomes for patients and performs well against most of the standards | |
| The pharmacy meets all the standards | |
| The pharmacy has not met one or more standards |