Pharmacy context
This pharmacy is on a high street in Tadcaster town centre. Pharmacy team members dispense NHS prescriptions and sell a range of over‐the‐counter medicines. The pharmacy provides services, such as the NHS Pharmacy First service and seasonal flu vaccinations. Team members provide medicines to people in multi‐compartment compliance packs. And they also dispense these packs for four of the company’s other pharmacies. They deliver medicines to people’s homes.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy doesn’t adequately identify and manage all the risks associated with its services. It has some written procedures to help pharmacy team members manage these risks. But these are out-of-date. And they do not include procedures to help manage the pharmacy’s automated dispensing systems. So, they may not
understand the correct way to use the automated systems effectively. Most pharmacy team members do not read the available procedures which means they may not
fully understand the correct processes to follow. The pharmacy does not
suitably identify and destroy confidential waste, which increases the risk of sensitive
information being disposed of inappropriately. Pharmacy team members understand their role to help protect vulnerable people. They record and discuss the mistakes they make so that they can learn from them. And they generally keep other necessary records.
Principle 2. Staff
Pharmacy team members have the right qualifications and skills, or are enrolled on appropriate training courses, for their roles and the services they provide. They complete training to help keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Team members feel comfortable raising concerns and discuss ways to improve services.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy stores unused chemicals in a way which poses a significant hazard and risk to pharmacy team members. The pharmacy is clean. And its other areas are generally tidy and properly maintained. It provides a suitable space for the services it provides. The pharmacy has a consultation room where people can speak to pharmacy team members privately.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy does not adequately monitor fridge temperatures. This means it may not be able to demonstrate that it appropriately
stores medicines at the correct temperature so they remain safe to use. The pharmacy has processes in place to help people understand the risks of taking some higher-risk medicines. But it does not provide people receiving medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs with enough information to help them use their medicines safely. The pharmacy’s services are easy for people to access. And it suitably sources its medicines.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy generally has the equipment it needs to provide its services safely. It maintains its equipment properly, so it is safe to use. And pharmacy team members manage and use the equipment available in ways that protect people’s confidentiality.
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 does 'pharmacy has not met all standards' mean?
When a pharmacy has not met all standards, they are required to complete an improvement action plan, which you can find via a link at the top left of this page. We monitor progress to check the improvements are made and inspect again after six months to make sure the pharmacy is maintaining these improvements. A new report will then be published.