Grewal Chemists (1035614)

Inspection summary findings

Principle 1. Governance

The pharmacy’s working practices are safe and effective. It responds appropriately to people who raise concerns and provide feedback about its services. And its team have the necessary knowledge to recognise and report concerns to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. Pharmacy team members discuss mistakes they make during the dispensing process. And they use these discussions to reduce risk. The pharmacy has some systems in place to manage confidential information. And it acts quickly to manage any identified risks relating to confidentiality. The pharmacy generally keeps the records it must by law up to date. But some gaps in these records may result in inaccurate and incomplete audit trails. It has some procedures for supporting its team in delivering its services. But these procedures do not extend to all services provided. This could make it difficult for the pharmacy to demonstrate how all team members work to the same standards.

Principle 2. Staff

The pharmacy has enough skilled and knowledgeable people working to provide its services and to manage its workload effectively. The pharmacy promotes openness and it has appropriate feedback mechanisms in place for its team. Pharmacy team members engage in regular conversations relating to risk management and safety. And they are supported through mandatory training for their roles. But the pharmacy does not adopt formal systems for recording outcomes of patient safety discussions or for the learning and development needs of its team members. This may mean there are some missed opportunities to share learning.

Principle 3. Premises

The pharmacy is clean, secure and maintained to the standards required. The pharmacy team has access to facilities which allow people using the pharmacy to speak to a member of the team or have a consultation with a doctor in private.

Principle 4. Services, including medicines management

The pharmacy offers a good range of services and these are fully accessible to people. It obtains its medicines from reputable sources. And it stores and manages them appropriately to help make sure they are safe to use. It has some systems in place to provide assurance that its medicines are fit for purpose. The pharmacy works effectively to manage the risks associated with providing its services and its workload is generally well organised. It has systems in place to make sure people get the right medicines at the right time. But it doesn’t always supply patient information leaflets when dispensing medicines in multi-compartmental compliance packs to people living in their own homes. This could mean that people do not have all the information they require to assist them managing their own medication.

Principle 5. Equipment and facilities

The pharmacy team has access to all the equipment it needs for providing its services. It uses this equipment in a way which protects people’s confidentiality. The pharmacy has some monitoring systems in place for its equipment and it replaces equipment at regular intervals.