Inspection outcome: Standards met
Last inspection: 01/02/2024
Pharmacy context
The pharmacy is in a parade of businesses in a residential area of Hemel Hempstead. It dispenses NHS and private prescriptions, sells over-the-counter medicines and provides health advice. The pharmacy dispenses medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs (blister packs) for people who have difficulty managing their medicines. Services include substance misuse, smoking cessation, sexual health and seasonal flu vaccination services.
Inspection summary findings
Principle 1. Governance
The pharmacy’s working practices are mostly safe and effective. It has adequate standard operating procedures in place for the team to follow to manage the risks associated with providing services. The pharmacy generally keeps all the records required by law showing it supplies its medicines and services safely. It has systems in place for the team members to learn from their mistakes and take action to prevent them happening again. Members of the pharmacy team protect people’s private information, and they are appropriately trained in how to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable people.
Principle 2. Staff
The pharmacy’s team members are qualified and have the appropriate skills and training for their roles. They work well together and manage their workload. Members of the team are aware of the potential to abuse some OTC medicines so they follow a protocol, ask appropriate questions and offer suitable advice when they sell medicines.
Principle 3. Premises
The pharmacy's premises are bright, secure and suitable for the provision of healthcare services. The pharmacy prevents people accessing its premises when it is closed so its medicines stock is safe, and people's private information is protected.
Principle 4. Services, including medicines management
The pharmacy’s working practices are generally safe and effective. It tries to make sure people with a range of needs can easily access the pharmacy’s services. The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable sources. And it stores its medicines securely at the correct temperature so they are fit for purpose and safe to use. Members of the pharmacy team mark prescriptions for high-risk medicines to alert the pharmacist to people who require more information and support to use their medicines properly. The pharmacy team knows what to do when it receives a drug alert or recall.
Principle 5. Equipment and facilities
The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs for the services it offers. The pharmacy uses its equipment appropriately and keeps people's private information safe.
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 |