Clarkes ChemistGPhC

Pharmacy context

The pharmacy is in a residential area of Dumbarton on a parade of shops. It provides a prescription collection and delivery service. And supplies medicines in multi-compartment medicine devices to help support people. It offers a range of additional services. And a consultation room and separate booth are available.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has procedures for the key tasks that it carries out.  And the pharmacy team must follow them. But, the procedures are past their review date and expired. This means the pharmacy is unable to show that the pharmacy team are up to date with safe and effective practices. The team members understand the roles and responsibilities expected of them. And they work in a safe way and look after the people that use the pharmacy. The pharmacy keeps some records of mistakes when they happen. And senior pharmacy members carry out checks to make sure the pharmacy is running safely. The pharmacy team members use safety measures when they identify weaknesses in their procedures. And this ensures that services stay safe. The pharmacy keeps the records it needs to by law. It understands its role in protecting vulnerable people. And the pharmacy team are trained to keep confidential information safe. People using the pharmacy can raise concerns. And staff know to follow the company's complaints handling procedure. This means that staff listen to people and put things right when they can.

• Principle 2 – Staff

  Standards met

  The pharmacy monitors its staffing levels. And ensures it has the right number of pharmacy team members throughout the week. The pharmacy team members support each other in their day-to-day work. They can speak up when there are problems. And suggest service improvements when needed. The pharmacist updates team members when there are service changes. But there is limited access to ongoing training.  And this may prevent pharmacy team members from improving in their roles.

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  The premises are clean. And provide a safe, secure and professional environment for patients to receive healthcare.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards met

  The pharmacy provides a range of services to the surrounding area. It displays its opening times and some service information in the window. But, only provides limited access to patient information leaflets inside the pharmacy. This means that people may not always be aware of the services available to them. The pharmacy supports housebound and vulnerable people. It dispenses multi-compartment medicine devices for people who need extra help. And offers a prescription collection and delivery service. The pharmacy manages its services. But, sometimes it dispenses medicines before new prescriptions arrive from the surgery. This increases the risk of dispensing errors. And the risk that the pharmacy may not give people the right medicines at the right time. The pharmacy does not always update the pharmacy team about high-risk medicines. This means they are unable to contribute to patient safety initiatives​. The pharmacy sources, stores and manages medicines to ensure they are fit for purpose. And it has the capability to follow the new falsified medicines directive.

• Principle 5 – Equipment

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has the equipment it needs to provide safe services.

Inspection history summary