The PharmacyGPhC

Pharmacy context

The pharmacy is attached to a GP practice in a residential area of Plymouth, close to a large naval base. The pharmacy dispenses NHS and private prescriptions. The pharmacy delivers medicines to people. The pharmacy offers advice on the management of minor illnesses and long-term conditions. It also offers flu vaccinations, a minor ailments scheme and drug user services.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Standards met

  The pharmacy generally identifies and manages risk appropriately. Team members usually record their errors and reviews them. But the pharmacy does not always come up with clear actions to prevent them from happening again. The pharmacy has written procedures in place for the work it does. The pharmacy asks people for their views and acts suitably on the feedback. The pharmacy has adequate insurance to cover its services. The pharmacy keeps the records required by law. The pharmacy keeps people’s private information safe and explains how it will be used. Pharmacy team members know how to protect the safety of vulnerable people and act appropriately to do this when needed.

• Principle 2 – Staff

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has enough staff. Team members are appropriately trained for their roles and they keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Team members suggest and makes changes to improve their services. They communicate well with each other. ​

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  The pharmacy provides a safe, secure and professional environment for people to receive healthcare.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards met

  The pharmacy is accessible and advertises its services well. It supplies medicines safely. The pharmacy gives additional advice to people receiving high-risk medicines. But it does not make a record of this to show that this advice has been given. The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable suppliers. It stores them securely. It does not have a good process to check that they are still suitable for supply. This increases the risk that out of date medicines could be given to people. The pharmacy delivers prescription medicines safely to people’s homes. It keeps records to show that it has delivered the right things to the right people. But the prescription is not always available at the point of supply meaning that a final check of appropriateness is not possible. The pharmacy deals with medicines that people return to it appropriately.

• Principle 5 – Equipment

  Standards met

  The pharmacy uses appropriate equipment and facilities to provide its services. It keeps these clean and tidy.

Inspection history summary