Aston Pharmacy (1029851)

Inspection summary findings

Principle 1. Governance

The pharmacy appropriately identifies and manages the risks to its services. It has up-to-date procedures to help the team members work safely and effectively. And it asks people for their feedback about the pharmacy’s services. The team members keep people’s private information secure. And they know their role in helping protect the wellbeing of vulnerable people. The team members respond well when they make mistakes whilst dispensing. They record their mistakes so they can make suitable changes to reduce the risk of the same mistake happening again. They mostly make the records they must by law.

Principle 2. Staff

The pharmacy has a team with the required skills and knowledge for the services it provides. Its team members complete some ongoing learning to keep these skills and knowledge up to date. They work well together to manage the workload. And the experienced team members support the member in training to help them resolve queries. Team members can use their professional judgment to make decisions. And they feel comfortable in raising any professional concerns if necessary.

Principle 3. Premises

The pharmacy is relatively clean, hygienic and it is secure. It provides an adequate space for the services provided. There is limited storage space, so some areas of the pharmacy appear cluttered. It has an adequate consultation room so people can talk to team members in private.

Principle 4. Services, including medicines management

The pharmacy provides services that support people's health needs. And it generally manages its services appropriately. The team members recognise the importance of supporting people taking higher risk medicines. And they provide these people with relevant advice and written information to help them take their medicines safely. The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable sources. And it mostly stores and manages its medicines appropriately. But the team members don’t always prioritise checking the expiry dates of medicines. So, there is a risk some medicines are not fit for purpose.

Principle 5. Equipment and facilities

The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services appropriately. And the team mostly uses these in ways to maintain people’s privacy.