Cohens ChemistGPhC

Pharmacy context

This is a community pharmacy located on the high street in Wootton Bassett. It serves its local population which is mostly elderly. The pharmacy opens five days a week. The pharmacy sells a range of over-the-counter medicines, dispenses NHS prescriptions, provides flu vaccinations and supplies medicines in multi-compartment compliance aids for people to use living in their own homes.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has written procedures to help make sure the team works safely. Pharmacy team members record and review mistakes that happen and use this information and learning to avoid future mistakes. Pharmacy team members are clear about their roles and responsibilities. The pharmacy asks its customers and staff for their views and uses this to help improve services. It manages and protects people’s confidential information and it tells people how their private information will be used. The pharmacy has appropriate insurance to protect people when things do go wrong. The pharmacy generally maintains the records that it must keep by law. However, some records were not always completed correctly which could mean that the pharmacy is not able to show exactly what has happened if any problems arise.

• Principle 2 – Staff

  Standards met

  The pharmacy staff have the appropriate skills, qualifications and training to deliver services safely and effectively. The pharmacy team members work well together. They are comfortable about providing feedback and raising concerns and are involved in improving pharmacy services.

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  The pharmacy provides a safe and appropriate environment for the provision of pharmacy services. The pharmacy team protect private information and the pharmacy is secure and protected from unauthorised access.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards met

  Pharmacy services are accessible, effectively managed and safely delivered, pharmaceutical stock is appropriately obtained, stored and supplied. Where a medicinal product is not fit for purpose, the team take appropriate action. But the pharmacy team do not always store medicines with batch numbers and expiry dates which could mean that it would be more difficult to trace these medicines when things have gone wrong. The pharmacy does not currently have a hazardous waste bin to dispose of hazardous waste medicines and this may increase the risk to staff and the environment.

• Principle 5 – Equipment

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has access to the appropriate equipment and facilities to provide the services offered. These are used in a way that helps protect patient confidentiality and dignity.

Inspection history summary