Pharmacy context
The pharmacy is on a main road in a parade of shops. It provides NHS and private prescription dispensing mainly to local residents. And it provides testing and advice for people with diabetes. The pharmacy dispenses multi-compartment compliance packs for about 50 people and supplies medicines to about 300 people who are in care homes.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
Members of the pharmacy team generally work to professional standards and try to manage risks effectively. They are clear about their roles and responsibilities, but the lack of permanent staffing makes this more challenging. The pharmacy keeps most of its records up to date. The team members also understand how they can help to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. They sometimes log the mistakes they make during the dispensing process. And they try to learn from these to avoid problems being repeated. The team manages and protects information and it tells people how their private information will be used. The pharmacy has not made sure that everyone working in the pharmacy has had formal training about keeping private information secure. This could increase the chance that sensitive information is not always fully protected.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy staffing is being reviewed by the management team and locum dispensers are often used to fill the gaps in staffing. There are just about enough staff to provide safe services and recruitment is being undertaken for permanent, trained staff . But the team is currently under some pressure. Training is provided by the company and staff find this useful to help keep their skills and knowledge up to date.
Principle 3. Premises
The premises generally provide a safe and secure environment for people to receive healthcare. But the pharmacy could do more to make sure all areas are maintained to an appropriate level of cleanliness.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy’s working practices are generally safe and effective, and it gets its medicines from reputable sources. Pharmacy team members are helpful and give advice to people about where they can get other support. But the lack of regular staffing and the recruitment issues have led to some of the tasks in the pharmacy falling behind. Cleaning and date checking are examples of this.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy generally has the right equipment for its services. It makes sure its equipment is safe to use, although the glass measures were dirty.
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 |