Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 23/09/2019
Pharmacy context
This is a community pharmacy in a residential area of Watford in Hertfordshire. The pharmacy dispenses NHS and private prescriptions. It provides some services such as Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), the New Medicine Service (NMS), Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC), chlamydia screening and treatment as well as smoking cessation. It can also offer a few private services such as supplying medicines for erectile dysfunction or to help prevent malaria. And, it provides multi-compartment compliance aids to people if they find it difficult to take their medicines on time.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
Overall, the pharmacy manages risks in a satisfactory way. Members of the pharmacy team generally work in a safe manner. They understand how to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. And, they protect people’s private information appropriately. The pharmacy team identify and deal with their mistakes responsibly. And, the pharmacy adequately maintains most of its records in accordance with the law. But it doesn't always record enough details for all its records or formally review its internal mistakes. This means that the team may not have all the information needed if problems or queries arise. And, they could be missing opportunities to spot patterns, learn and prevent similar mistakes happening again.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has adequate numbers of staff in line with the volume of services it provides. The team is suitably qualified. They understand their roles and responsibilities. And, they have access to resources that can help them with ongoing training. This helps keep their skills and knowledge up to date.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy's premises are secure and generally provide an adequate environment to deliver its services. It has a separate area where confidential conversations and services can take place. But parts of the pharmacy are untidy.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy's team members make suitable adjustments to ensure their services are readily accessible to people with different needs. They have been proactive in identifying people who could benefit from their services. The pharmacy generally provides its services in a safe and effective manner. It sources its medicines from reputable suppliers, usually stores and manages medicines appropriately. But, team members don't always identify prescriptions that require extra advice. And, the pharmacy does not always provide medicines leaflets. This makes it difficult for them to show that appropriate advice has been provided or that people have all the information they need to take their medicines safely.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the appropriate equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services safely. Its equipment is clean and helps to protect the privacy of people.
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 |