Lotus PharmacyGPhC

Pharmacy context

An independent pharmacy located on a busy high street in South Harrow, London, serving a diverse and multi-ethnic community. It is a family run business and has been owned by the regular pharmacist for 30 years. The pharmacy dispenses prescriptions and provided Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), New Medicines Service (NMS), monitored dosage system (MDS) trays for patients in their own homes and for a five-bed care home.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Standards met

  Overall, the pharmacy manages most risks well. The pharmacy records the mistakes it makes during the dispensing process. The pharmacy keeps the records it needs to by law, but the pharmacy does not always check some of its stock balances regularly. This means that mistakes may not be easily detected and corrected. The pharmacy protects people’s personal information and team members understand how to protect vulnerable people.

• Principle 2 – Staff

  Standards met

  The pharmacy team are appropriately trained for their roles. But, team members don’t have formal training plans to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. This could affect how well they care for people and the advice they give. Team members work in a supportive environment where they feel able to raise concerns if needed. They feel able to use their own professional judgement.

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  The pharmacy is clean, tidy and well maintained. The pharmacy has a private consultation room which is used regularly. The pharmacy is secure when it is closed.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards met

  The pharmacy’s services are accessible to people with different needs. The team source, store and generally manage medicines appropriately. Staff try to make sure pharmacy services are provided safely, but they do not always identify, or record relevant safety checks when people receive higher risk medicines. This makes it difficult for them to show that the appropriate advice is always provided when these medicines are supplied.

• Principle 5 – Equipment

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has appropriate equipment and facilities to provide services safely. These​ are clean and fit for purpose.

Inspection history summary