Pharmacy context
This is a community pharmacy in a parade of shops in the town of West Wickham. The surrounding area is largely residential, and there are several local doctor’s surgeries. The pharmacy provides some services under patient group directions (PGDs) such as seasonal flu vaccinations and emergency hormonal contraception. It supplies medication in multi-compartment compliance packs to residents in care homes and people in their homes who need help managing their medicines.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
Overall, the pharmacy adequately identifies and manages the risks associated with its services. Team members can show how they learn from any dispensing mistakes to make the pharmacy’s services safer. And they know how to protect vulnerable people. People who use the pharmacy are asked for their feedback so that the pharmacy can learn and improve. The pharmacy generally protects people's personal information properly. But it could do more to ensure that confidential waste is always disposed of appopriately.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough team members to provide its services safely. They get the right training for their roles. And they get ongoing training to help keep their knowledge and skills up to date. They feel comfortable about making suggestions or raising any concerns to help improve the pharmacy’s services. And they can take professional decisions so that people are kept safe.
Principle 3. Premises
The premises are suitable for the pharmacy’s services and they are kept secure from unauthorised access. People can have a conversation with a team member in a private area.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
Overall, the pharmacy provides its services safely and manages them adequately. It obtains its stock from reputable sources and generally stores it properly. It takes the right action in response to safety alerts, so people get medicines and medical devices that are safe to use. People with a range of needs can access the pharmacy’s services. But the pharmacy doesn’t highlight prescriptions for higher-risk medicines. This could mean that it misses out on opportunities to speak to people when they collect these medicines.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs for its services. It maintains them well and uses its equipment in a way which protects 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 |