Tesco Instore Pharmacy (1107105)

Inspection summary findings

Principle 1. Governance

The pharmacy provides its services in line with clear and up-to-date procedures which its team members closely follow. They have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities and know when to ask for help. The pharmacy makes its procedures easily accessible to all team members, especially those who may not be in the pharmacy that often. The team works to professional standards, identifying and managing risks very effectively. The pharmacy keeps good records of the mistakes that happen during the dispensing process. The pharmacist regularly reviews them with members of the team so that they can learn from them and avoid the same mistakes being repeated. They also share them more widely so that other pharmacies within the company can effectively learn from them. The pharmacy manages and protects confidential information well and tells people how their private information will be used. Team members understand their role in helping to protect the welfare of vulnerable people. The pharmacy has adequate insurance in place to help protect people if things do go wrong.

Principle 2. Staff

The pharmacy has enough team members to manage its workload safely. They communicate very effectively between themselves. They work well together and make sure that between them, they cover all the hours the pharmacy is open. The pharmacy gives them plenty of training and checks that they are able to complete it. They have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities and are comfortable with making suggestions to improve safety and workflows where appropriate.

Principle 3. Premises

The pharmacy’s premises provide a safe and professional environment for people to receive its services. They are well laid out so that team members can easily find everything they need. The premises include a suitably private room which the team uses for some of its services and for private conversations. And the pharmacy keeps its premises secure when closed.

Principle 4. Services, including medicines management

The pharmacy delivers its services in a safe and effective manner, and people with a range of needs can access them. It is good at identifying people it supplies high-risk medicines to. It makes thorough and regular checks that they have all the extra information they may need to take their medicines safely. It also carries out extra checks to make sure that prescriptions for children and young adults are as safe as possible. The pharmacy sources, stores and manages its medicines safely, and so makes sure that all the medicines it supplies are fit for purpose. It responds well to drug alerts or product recalls to make sure that people only get medicines or devices which are safe for them to take.

Principle 5. Equipment and facilities

The pharmacy has suitable equipment and facilities for the services it provides. It makes sure that they are properly maintained. It also ensures they are used in such a way that people’s private information is kept appropriately safe and secure.