Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 10/09/2021
Pharmacy context
This is a community pharmacy in Loftus. It dispenses both NHS and private prescriptions and sells a range of over-the-counter medicines. The pharmacy team offers advice to people about minor illnesses and over the counter medicines. It provides NHS services; such as new medicines scheme (NMS). It supplies some medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs to people living in their own homes. And it provides a home delivery service. A flu vaccination service is planned.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy acts to keep members of the public and team members safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has policies and procedures in place. But the team have not read these so they may not be working consistently. Team members discuss dispensing mistakes and make some improvements to avoid the same errors happening again. The pharmacy keeps the records it needs to by law but does not check CD balances regularly. So, there is a risk that CD discrepancies may go undetected for a prolonged period. People using the pharmacy can raise concerns and provide feedback. Team members securely dispose of personal information when it is no longer required.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough people in its team. They’re comfortable about giving feedback on how to improve the pharmacy’s services. Pharmacy team members have the necessary qualifications and skills for their roles and the services they provide. They work well together and make decisions about what is right for the people using the pharmacy. They complete training as and when required. And, they learn from the pharmacist to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy provides a suitable and secure environment for people to receive healthcare. And its premises are clean and well equipped. The pharmacy team members take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of Covid 19 infection.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
People with a range of needs can access the pharmacy’s services. The pharmacy generally provides its services safely and maintains clear audit trails for its prescribing service. The pharmacy provides medicines to some people in multi-compartment packs to help them take them correctly. And it suitably manages the risks associated with this service. It obtains its medicines from reputable sources. But there is an inconsistent approach to date checking and documenting this. So, this may increase the risk of dispensing medicines that are not suitable for supply.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment and the facilities it needs to provide its services safely. It uses its equipment to make sure people’s data is kept secure. And its team makes sure the equipment it uses is clean.
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 |