Pharmacy context
This is a community pharmacy in a residential area of Hove. It offers NHS services such as dispensing, the New Medicine Service, and the Pharmacy First service. It supplies medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs to some people who need this additional support. It provides a blood collection service, where blood samples are sent away to an external lab for testing who then notifies people of the results. And it offers a travel vaccination service using patient group directions (PGDs). The pharmacy previously offered a prescribing service, but this stopped after the last inspection. 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.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy adequately identifies and manages the risks associated with its services. Team members know how to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. The pharmacy largely keeps the records it needs to by law, to show that its medicines are supplied safely and legally. It protects people’s personal information. Team members generally respond appropriately when a dispensing mistake happens. But they do not always record them, which could mean that they are missing out on opportunities to learn and make the pharmacy’s services safer.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough staff to provide its services safely, and they do the right training for their roles. They do ongoing training to help keep their knowledge and skills up to date. And they feel comfortable about raising any concerns.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy’s premises are clean and tidy, and secure from unauthorised access when closed. People can have a conversation with a team member in a private area.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy provides its services in a safe and effective way. People with a range of needs can access its services. The pharmacy gets its medicines from reputable sources and stores them appropriately. The team takes the right action in response to safety alerts and recalls so that people get medicines and medical devices that are safe to use.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment it needs to provide its services and it generally maintains it appropriately. It uses its equipment to help protect people’s personal information.
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 |