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. The pharmacy supplies some medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs to help people take their medicines and it delivers medicines to people’s homes. 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 inspection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy generally identifies and manages the risks associated with its services. The pharmacy team members demonstrate a clear understanding of their role in safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults. And they respond promptly and suitably when concerns arise. The pharmacy team members identify potential risks to the safe dispensing of prescriptions and they mostly act to prevent errors. But they don’t keep records of all errors so they can review and improve their practice.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has a team with an appropriate range of skills and experience to support its services. Team members work well together supporting each other in their day-to-day work. Pharmacy team members receive some informal feedback on their performance to help them improve. And they take opportunities to complete ongoing training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
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 mostly manages its services to help people receive appropriate care. The pharmacy doesn't always fully assess the risk when providing a new service. The pharmacy gets its medicines from reputable sources and it stores them properly. The team carries out checks to make sure medicines are in good condition and suitable to supply.
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 |