BootsGPhC

Pharmacy context

This is a small branch of Boots by a GP surgery and the leisure centre in North Cheam, Surrey. It is accredited as a Healthy Living Pharmacy (HLP). Its main activity is dispensing NHS prescriptions, mostly for people coming in from the adjacent surgery. It also dispenses private prescriptions, sells a limited range of over-the-counter medicines and provides health advice. It offers a home delivery service for those who are unable to get to the pharmacy themselves.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Good practice

  The pharmacy provides its services in line with clear, up-to-date processes and procedures which are being followed by its team members. It also has good processes to check that they are clear about their roles and responsibilities. And they work to professional standards, identifying and managing risks effectively. The pharmacy keeps detailed records of the mistakes it makes during the dispensing process. The patient safety champion regularly reviews them with each member of the team so that they can learn from them and avoid problems being repeated. Overall the pharmacy keeps very well-organised records. It 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

  Good practice

  The pharmacy has enough staff to manage its workload safely. Pharmacy team members are well-trained and clearly work very well together. They have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They can make suggestions to improve safety and workflows where appropriate

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  The pharmacy’s premises are very small for the volume of its work. But they are sufficiently well laid out to provide a safe, secure and professional environment for people to receive its services. The premises include a private room which the team uses for some of its services, its administration and for private conversations.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards met

  The pharmacy delivers its services in a safe and effective manner, and people with a range of needs can access them. It identifies people supplied with high-risk medicines and keeps good records of the checks that it makes. And of the extra information it gives them to help them take their medicines safely. 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

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has the right equipment for the range of services it provides, and it makes sure that it is properly maintained. The pharmacy takes reasonable steps to ensure that people’s private information is kept safe and secure.

Inspection history summary