Pharmacy context
The pharmacy is on a parade of shops on a busy road in a largely residential area. It provides NHS dispensing services, the New Medicine Service, emergency hormonal contraception, an ear wax removal service and the Pharmacy First service. It supplies medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs to a large number of people who live in their own homes and need this support. And it provides substance misuse medications to a small number of people. This was a re-inspection of the pharmacy, following an inspection in December 2023 when it was found not to be meeting all of the Standards for registered pharmacies. 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 restriction imposed.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
Overall, the pharmacy adequately identifies and manages the risks associated with its services to help provide them safely. It has made improvements since the previous inspection and now protects people’s personal information well. And people can provide feedback about the pharmacy’s services. The pharmacy largely keeps its records up to date and accurate. And team members understand their role in protecting vulnerable people.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy has enough team members to provide its services safely. Following the previous inspection, they now do the right training for their roles, and they are provided with some ongoing training. The team can take professional decisions to ensure people taking medicines are safe. And they can raise any concerns or make suggestions.
Principle 3. Premises
People can have a conversation with a team member in a private area. The premises provide a safe, secure, and clean environment for the pharmacy's services.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
Overall, the pharmacy provides its services safely and manages them well. And people with a range of needs can access the pharmacy’s services. The pharmacy gets its medicines from reputable suppliers and largely stores them properly. It responds appropriately to drug alerts and product recalls. This helps make sure that its medicines and devices are safe for people to use.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment it needs to provide its services safely. It uses its equipment to help protect people’s personal 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 |