Pharmacy context
This community pharmacy is in a large residential area close to the centre of Blackburn. The pharmacy’s main activities are dispensing NHS prescriptions and selling over‐the‐counter medicines. Enforcement action has been taken against this pharmacy, which remains in force at the time of this inspection, and there are restrictions on the provision of some services. The enforcement action taken allows the pharmacy to continue providing other services, which are not affected by the restrictions imposed. The pharmacy changed ownership in October 2021. The inspection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy adequately identifies and manages the risks associated with its services. And it mostly completes all the records it needs to by law. The pharmacy team members generally identify potential risks to the safe dispensing of prescriptions and they take appropriate action to prevent errors. The pharmacy team members protect people’s private information properly but they don’t provide people with information on how they do this. The pharmacy team follows written procedures covering the delivery of pharmacy services. But these are overdue a review so they may not contain up-to-date information.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has a small team with an appropriate range of experience and skills needed to support its services. Team members work well together and are good at supporting each other in their day-to-day work. They take opportunities to enrol on to training courses to enhance their skills and knowledge. The team members are regularly asked for their ideas and suggestions to enhance the delivery of the pharmacy’s services. And they are supported to introduce new systems.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy premises are suitable for the services provided. The pharmacy has adequate facilities to meet the needs of people requiring privacy when using the pharmacy services.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy provides services which are easily accessible to people. And it suitably manages its services to help people receive appropriate care. The pharmacy keeps complete records of the dispensing of multi-compartment compliance packs and deliveries to people. So, the team can effectively deal with any queries. The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable sources. And it generally stores and manages its medicines appropriately.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has an appropriate range of equipment 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 |