Pharmacy context
This is a community pharmacy located in a residential area in South-East London. The pharmacy does not have an NHS contract, and mainly dispenses private prescription which are generated by the pharmacist independent prescriber. The pharmacy also provides a phlebotomy service as well as aesthetics treatments, such as dermal fillers and botulinum toxin.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy does not effectively manage the risks associated with it services. The pharmacy does not have
up-to-date policies, procedures, or risk assessments for its prescribing and
aesthetic services. It does not keep accurate records so it cannot always show it supplies medicines safely. And it supplies some medicines against prescriptions which are not legally valid. It cannot demonstrate that
it has robust processes in place to review its services or learn from mistakes
that happen. However, pharmacy team members generally understand how to keep people’s private information safe. But the pharmacy doesn’t
always manage confidential waste well which could mean sensitive information is
not always protected.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacist independent prescriber does not always prescribe within their scope of practice, and has limited understanding of the legal aspects of prescription writing. This means that pharmacy services are not always supplied in a safe and legal manner. The pharmacy has enough staff to manage its workload and pharmacy team members are provided with some training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy environment is suitable for the services it provides. It has consultation rooms, so people can receive services and speak to the pharmacist in private. And the pharmacy is kept secure from unauthorised access.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy's independent prescriber does not keep adequate records about their prescribing activities and cannot always show their reasons for providing treatment to people. They do not always ensure that prescriptions are legally valid before supplying the medicines. And they do not follow current guidance when prescribing some medicines, including antibiotics and medicines for weight loss. So, the pharmacy cannot demonstrate that all its supplies of prescription only medicines are safe and legal. The pharmacy obtains its medicines from recognised suppliers. And it mostly stores and manages its medicines as it should.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services safely.
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 does 'pharmacy has not met all standards' mean?
When a pharmacy has not met all standards, they are required to complete an improvement action plan, which you can find via a link at the top left of this page. We monitor progress to check the improvements are made and inspect again after six months to make sure the pharmacy is maintaining these improvements. A new report will then be published.