Pharmacy context
The pharmacy is in a mainly residential area opposite Bushey Station. It dispenses NHS and private prescriptions, sells over-the-counter medicines and provides health advice. The pharmacy dispenses medicines in multi-compartment compliance aids for people who have difficulty managing their medicines. Services include prescription collection. The pharmacy is working towards healthy living status.This was a follow up inspection after enforcement action was taken because the pharmacy had been buying unusually large quantities of codeine linctus which is known to be liable to misuse and addiction without adequate safeguards and monitoring. Enforcement action has been taken against this pharmacy, which remains in force at the time of this inspection, and there are restrictions on the provision of some services. The enforcement action taken allows the pharmacy to continue providing other services, which are not affected by the restrictions imposed.The inspection took place during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pharmacy has recently changed ownership.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy’s working practices are generally safe. The pharmacy has written procedures which tell staff how to work safely but these are being updated. The pharmacy team has introduced new ways of working to help protect people against COVID-19 infection. The pharmacy's team members mostly keep the records they need to so they can show the pharmacy supplies its medicines safely and legally. But they do not record all their mistakes, so they may miss opportunities to learn and prevent the same errors happening again. The pharmacy's team members understand their role in protecting vulnerable people. And they keep people's private information safe.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough suitably qualified staff to safely provide its services. The pharmacy's team members work well together and are comfortable about providing feedback to the pharmacist.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy's premises are generally safe, clean and suitable for the provision of pharmacy services. Team members have introduced additional cleaning measures to help protect people from COVID-19 infection. The pharmacy prevents people accessing its premises when it is closed so that it keeps its medicines and people's information safe.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
People with different needs can access the pharmacy’s services. The pharmacy gets its medicines from reputable sources to protect people from harm. Pharmacy team members make sure people have all the information they need to use their medicines safely. They generally make sure that medicines are stored securely at the correct temperature so that medicines are safe to use. Team members know what to do if any medicines or devices need to be returned to the suppliers, but they do not always keep a record to show they took the right steps to protect patient safety.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs for the services it offers. The pharmacy uses its equipment appropriately to keep people’s private information safe.
Pharmacy details
Attenborough Court Owen Square
Aldenham Road
Opposite Bushey Station
WATFORD
WD194FN
England
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 |