Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 31/01/2024
Pharmacy context
This is a community pharmacy in South Shields. It dispenses both NHS prescriptions and private prescriptions and pharmacy team members advise on minor ailments and medicines use. The pharmacy also supplies prescription only medicines via patient group directions (PGDs).
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy team members work to professional standards to keep services safe and effective. They discuss mistakes that happen when dispensing and they keep records to identify patterns in the mistakes. And then take the opportunity to improve and reduce the risk of further errors. The pharmacy keeps the records it needs to by law, and it protects confidential information to keep it safe and secure. Team members understand their roles in protecting vulnerable people. And they complete regular training to ensure they are up to date with safeguarding requirements.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy reviews its staffing levels to ensure it has the right number of suitably skilled pharmacy team members working when it needs them. Team members have the right qualifications and skills for their roles and the services they provide. And the pharmacy provides some support to help team members learn and develop.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy premises are secure, clean, and hygienic. The pharmacy has adequate facilities for people to have private conversations with pharmacy team members.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy provides services which are easily accessible. And it provides its services in accordance with safe working practices. The pharmacy gets its medicines from reputable sources, and it stores them appropriately. The team conducts checks to make sure medicines are in good condition and suitable to supply. And they identify and remove medicines that are no longer fit for purpose.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment it needs to provide safe services. And it uses its facilities to suitably protect people’s private information.
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 |