Pharmacy context
This pharmacy is situated in central London close to Harley Street. It sells over-the counter medicines, dispenses prescriptions, and it provides other pharmacy services such as health checks and vaccinations. Most services are offered privately, and uptake of NHS services is relatively low. The store has a busy retail business selling health and wellbeing products which are also available through an online shop. Some other healthcare services operate from the premises such as a private GP service, chiropody and osteopathy. The pharmacy also has a Wholesale Dealer’s Authorisation. These services are not regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
Pharmacy-only medicines, including medicines liable to misuse, are available for sale in the retail area and sold by staff who are not healthcare trained. The pharmacy is unable to demonstrate that it has sufficiently managed the risks of doing this. Otherwise, the pharmacy adequately manages the risks associated with its other services, including the dispensing service. Team members know how to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. The pharmacy generally keeps the records it needs to by law. And team members record and regularly review any dispensing mistakes to help make the pharmacy’s services safer.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy’s team members manage the workload effectively. They receive the training they need for the jobs they do. Team members work well together and are supportive of each other. The pharmacy encourages team members to raise concerns and provide feedback so it can make improvements.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy is professional in appearance, and it provides a suitable environment for the services it provides. It has consultation facilities so people visiting the pharmacy can receive services and have a private conversation with team members.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
There are risks associated with the display and sale of pharmacy-only medicines. But overall, the pharmacy manages its services and supplies medicines safely. It offers a wide range of healthcare services which are easy for people to access. And it obtains its medicines from licensed suppliers, and the team generally manages medicines appropriately, so they are safe to use.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment it needs to provide its services safely. It has appropriate systems in place to protect people’s confidentiality.
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.