Ways Pharmacy (1035628)

Inspection summary findings

Principle 1. Governance

The pharmacy identifies and manages the risks for providing most of its services. But it doesn't do this for the private prescribing service it provides. It has no risk assessments or formal governance arrangements for the service. And there is a lack of clear and accurate record keeping for the consultations taking place. The pharmacy’s professional indemnity insurance arrangements do not cover virtual appointments despite these taking place regularly. And prescriptions issued through the service do not always comply with legal requirements. The pharmacy advertises how people can provide feedback about its services and it manages people’s confidential information with care. Pharmacy team members engage in shared learning following the mistakes they make during the dispensing process. And they know how to identify, and report concerns to help keep vulnerable people safe from harm.

Principle 2. Staff

The pharmacy has enough team members to provide its services. Overall, it supports team members in completing learning relevant to their role. Pharmacy team members work together well, and they feel able to feedback their ideas at work. They engage in regular conversations to help manage workload and to share learning with each other.

Principle 3. Premises

The pharmacy is appropriately secure and well maintained. It provides a professional environment for the delivery of healthcare services. People visiting the pharmacy can speak in confidence to team members in a private consultation space.

Principle 4. Services, including medicines management

Overall, the pharmacy manages its NHS dispensing services well. But it does not manage its private prescribing service safely. It does not show how it obtains necessary information from people before prescribing and supplying medicines through this service. The pharmacy’s services are accessible to people, and it obtains its stock from licensed wholesalers. It stores its medicines safely and securely and it makes regular checks to ensure they remain safe to supply. But it does not fully consider the safeguards required before starting a medicine postal service to people living in China. So, it may not be operating this service in the proper way. 

Principle 5. Equipment and facilities

Overall, the pharmacy has the appropriately maintained equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services. And its team members use the equipment in a way which protects people’s confidentiality.