Apollo PharmacyGPhC

Pharmacy context

This is a community pharmacy located close to a few GP surgeries in the centre of Redditch in Worcestershire. The pharmacy dispenses NHS and private prescriptions. It provides some services such as Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), the New Medicine Service (NMS), flu vaccinations during the season, Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) and needle exchange. The pharmacy supplies medicines inside multi-compartment compliance aids for some people, if they find it difficult to take their medicines on time. These are prepared from a separate part of the company’s premises. And, it supplies medicines to seven residential care homes for their residents​.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Standards met

  The pharmacy is managing most risks associated with its services. Pharmacy team members deal with their mistakes responsibly. But, they are not always formally reviewing them. This could mean that they may be missing opportunities to spot patterns and prevent similar mistakes happening in future. Team members understand how they can protect the welfare of vulnerable people. But, the pharmacy doesn’t always keep its records in accordance with the law. This means that the team may not have all the information needed if problems or queries arise.

• Principle 2 – Staff

  Standards met

  The pharmacy provides services using a team with a range of skills and experience. But, the pharmacy’s current staffing levels means that they sometimes struggle to manage the workload. And the pharmacy has no contingency plan to cope with staff absence. This could make it more difficult to manage the workload safely. Pharmacy team members in general, understand their roles and responsibilities. And, they are provided with resources to keep their skills and knowledge up to date.

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  In general, the pharmacy's premises are suitable to ensure the effective delivery of its services. But, some parts of it are not clean and untidy. This increases the risk of mistakes happening.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards met

  The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable suppliers. But, it doesn’t always store them in a suitable way. This increases the chance of mistakes happening. The team makes some checks to ensure that medicines are not supplied beyond their expiry date. But, the pharmacy has no up-to-date written details to confirm this. In general, the pharmacy’s services are delivered in a suitable manner. But they don’t always record information for people that receive higher-risk medicines. This makes it difficult for them to show that appropriate advice has been provided when these medicines are supplied.

• Principle 5 – Equipment

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has the equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services safely.

Inspection history summary