Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 18/06/2024
Pharmacy context
The pharmacy is in a small shopping precinct in a residential area near St Albans in Hertfordshire. It sells medicines over the counter and provides health advice. The pharmacy dispenses private and NHS prescriptions. It supplies medicines in multi‐compartment compliance packs for people who have difficulty taking their medicines at the right time. Its other services include delivery, blood pressure case-finding, COVID-19, travel medicines and seasonal flu vaccinations and Pharmacy First. The pharmacy has changed ownership since the previous visit.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy’s working practices are mostly safe and effective. It has suitable written instructions for members of the team to follow to help to manage risks in providing its services. Team members learn from their mistakes and take action to prevent the same thing happening again. The pharmacy keeps the records it needs to by law to show how it supplies its medicines and services safely. Members of the pharmacy team protect people’s private information. And they understand their role in safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable people.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy team members work well together to manage the workload and to deliver services safely. There are suitable handover arrangements so information is shared with each pharmacist each day. The pharmacy supports learning and development and they are suitably qualified or in training for their roles. The pharmacy team feel able to provide feedback to improve the pharmacy's services.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy's premises are bright, clean, secure and suitable for the provision of healthcare services. The pharmacy prevents people accessing its premises when it is closed to protect people's private information and to keep its medicines stock safe. People can have a private conversation with a team member in the consultation room.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy and its services are easily accessible to people with different needs. And its working practices are generally safe and effective. The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable sources so that they are fit for purpose. It stores them securely at the right temperature to help make sure they are safe to use. People are provided with the information they need to help them use their medicines properly. The pharmacy team members know what to do when they receive medicine alerts and recalls. They help make sure people get medicines and medical devices that are safe to use.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs for the services it offers. The pharmacy uses its equipment appropriately and keeps people's private information safe.
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 |