Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 05/09/2019
Pharmacy context
This is a community pharmacy located on the High Street in the town of Harpenden, near St Albans in Hertfordshire. The pharmacy dispenses NHS and private prescriptions. It offers some services such as Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), the New Medicine Service (NMS), administers travel vaccinations, chicken pox and flu vaccinations during the winter season. And, it supplies multi-compartment compliance aids to people in their own homes if they find it difficult to manage their medicines.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy’s working practices are generally delivered in a safe manner. Members of the pharmacy team monitor the safety of their services by recording mistakes and learning from them. The team mostly understands how to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. The pharmacy usually maintains its records in accordance with the law. But, it is not always recording enough details. This means that the team may not have all the information needed if problems or queries arise
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough staff to manage its workload safely. The pharmacy's team members understand their roles and responsibilities. And, they are provided with resources to help keep their skills and knowledge up to date
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy's premises provide an adequate environment to deliver its services. The pharmacy is clean, and it is kept secure from unauthorised access.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy team makes some adjustments to help people with different needs. The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable sources. It stores and manages its medicines appropriately. In general, it provides its services safely. The pharmacy’s team members take some care with higher-risk medicines. But, they don't always identify or record relevant information when people receive these medicines. This makes it difficult for them to show that they are providing people with appropriate advice to take their medicines safely.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the necessary equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services safely. Its equipment is clean and helps to protect 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 |