Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 15/08/2023
Pharmacy context
This community pharmacy is located within a small parade of shops in a residential area of Stoke-on-Trent. Most people who use the pharmacy are from the local area and there is a GP surgery close-by. The pharmacy dispenses prescriptions and sells medicines over the counter. It offers additional services including the New Medicine Service (NMS), the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS), blood pressure testing and travel vaccinations. A substance misuse service is also available. The pharmacy supplies some medicines in multi-compartment compliance aid packs, to help make sure that people take their medicines at the right time.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy identifies and manages risks adequately. Its team members understand how to keep people’s private information safe and raise concerns to protect the wellbeing of vulnerable people. But the pharmacy's written procedures sometimes contain outdated information, so team members may not always work effectively. And they do not record their mistakes, so they may miss opportunities to learn and improve. The pharmacy keeps the records it needs to by law, but the records are sometimes inaccurate or incomplete, which means team members may not always be able to show what has happened if a query arises.
Principle 2. Staff
Pharmacy team members work together effectively, and they can raise concerns and provide feedback. Pharmacy team members have the right qualifications for their roles. But the pharmacy does not provide many opportunities for team members to undertake ongoing learning and development. So, the pharmacy may not always be able to show how its team members keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
Principle 3. Premises
Overall, the pharmacy is suitably maintained and appropriate for the services it provides. But some areas are cluttered which detracts from the overall professional appearance. The pharmacy has a consultation room, so people can speak in private with members of the pharmacy team, but it is not easily accessible to people with mobility issues.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy’s services are suitably managed so that people receive appropriate care. But the pharmacy does not identify prescriptions for high-risk medications so team members may miss opportunities for further counselling and monitoring. The pharmacy gets its medicines from reputable suppliers and team members complete some checks to help make sure medicines are fit for supply. But they do not always record checks, so the pharmacy may not always be able to show it manages and stores medicines appropriately.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment it needs for the services it provides. Team members suitably maintain the equipment and use it 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 |