Sterling Chemist (9011548)

Inspection summary findings

Principle 1. Governance

The pharmacy has well-organised and up-to-date written instructions which tell its team members how to complete their tasks safely. Members of its team are clear about their roles and responsibilities. They work to professional standards, identifying and generally managing risks effectively. The pharmacy manages and protects confidential information well. Its team members understand their role in helping to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. It has appropriate insurance in place to help protect people if things do go wrong. But the pharmacy doesn’t always record things as fully as it should. This may make it harder to show what it has done if queries arise in the future.

Principle 2. Staff

The pharmacy has enough staff to manage its workload safely. Pharmacy team members are well trained and keep themselves up to date. They work well together, supporting each other as required. They have a clear understanding of their role and how they can help people with their medicines. They are suitably aware of the risks involved in selling some medicines and know when to involve the pharmacist.

Principle 3. Premises

The pharmacy’s premises are well designed and provide a very professional, safe and secure environment for people to receive its services. The team keeps them well maintained, clean and tidy so they still appear very new. There is a well-designed consultation room which the team makes good use of for the pharmacy’s services.

Principle 4. Services, including medicines management

The pharmacy provides a range of services which it delivers in a safe and effective manner. And people with a range of needs can easily access them. The team is well organised and makes sure that it plans ahead for any changes to its services. The pharmacy sources, stores and manages its medicines safely. Its team members identify people supplied with high-risk medicines so that they can be given extra information they need to take their medicines safely. The pharmacy makes sure that all the medicines it supplies are fit for purpose, responding adequately to drug alerts or product recalls.

Principle 5. Equipment and facilities

The pharmacy has the right equipment for the range of services it provides, and it makes sure that it is kept clean and suitably maintained. The pharmacy keeps people’s private information safe. But it doesn’t always make sure its team members are accessing that information in the way they should.