Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 07/12/2022
Pharmacy context
This busy independent community pharmacy is situated alongside other local shops close to Victoria station in central London. People who visit the pharmacy usually live or work locally, although some of its customers are tourists. The pharmacy dispenses NHS and private prescriptions, and it provides a number of other NHS funded services including flu vaccinations and smoking cessation services. It sells over the counter medicines (OTC), and it also offers some private services including travel vaccinations, strep-A testing, a walk-in minor ailment clinic and ear wax removal.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy generally manages the risks associated with its services and the pharmacy team completes the records that it needs to by law. Team members are clear about their roles and responsibilities, and they keep people’s private information safe. Team members understand how they can help to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. But the pharmacy could do more to make sure it has formal risk assessments, procedures and policies in place, so it can demonstrate how it operates and manages services safely.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough team members to manage the workload and the services that it provides. Team members have the right qualifications for their roles. But the pharmacy does not have a formal staff training and development programme, so team members may develop gaps in their skills and knowledge.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy provides a suitable environment for people to receive healthcare services. It has consultation facilities that enables it to provide members of the public with the opportunity to receive services in private and have confidential conversations.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy offers a wide range of healthcare services which are generally well managed and easy for people to access. The pharmacy team members give healthcare advice and support to people in the community. The pharmacy sources, stores and supplies medicines safely. And it carries out appropriate checks to ensure medicines are in good condition and suitable to supply.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has equipment and facilities it needs for the services it provides. The team members maintain the equipment so that it is safe, and they use it in a way that protects 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 |