Pharmacy context
This is an independent retail pharmacy located in central London close to Baker Street station. People who visit the pharmacy usually live or work locally, and some of its customers are tourists. The pharmacy dispenses private and NHS prescriptions, and it sells some over the counter medicines and other merchandise. The pharmacist is able to prescribe medicines and provides some private consultations.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy does not effectively manage the risks associated with it services. It does not keep accurate records so it cannot always show it supplies medicines safely. And it does not have up to date policies and procedures explaining how it operates or proper governance arrangements for its pharmacist prescribing service. This means it may not always provide safe and effective services. Pharmacy team members generally understand their responsibilities. And they know how to keep people’s private information safe and protect the welfare of vulnerable people.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy cannot show that its team members complete appropriate training for their roles. And the pharmacy does not have documented staff policies and procedures, so team members may not know what is expected of them or how to raise concerns.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy environment is suitable for the services it provides. It has consultation rooms, so people can receive services and speak to the pharmacist in private. However, some areas of the pharmacy are cluttered and untidy which detracts from the professional image and impacts on the working environment.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The superintendent pharmacist sometimes prescribes and supplies prescription medicines for people visiting the pharmacy. But he does not use the necessary documents to authorise the supplies. And he cannot show how he makes decisions, or provide details of the medicines he has prescribed and supplied to people. So the pharmacy cannot demonstate that all prescriptions supplies are safe and legal. In addition, the pharmacy does not always store and manage its medicines safely to make sure they are properly safeguarded and fit to supply.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services. Equipment is suitably maintained.
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 does 'pharmacy has not met all standards' mean?
When a pharmacy has not met all standards, they are required to complete an improvement action plan, which you can find via a link at the top left of this page. We monitor progress to check the improvements are made and inspect again after six months to make sure the pharmacy is maintaining these improvements. A new report will then be published.