A.R. PharmacyGPhC

Pharmacy context

This is a community pharmacy located within a purpose-built development that also contains a medical practice and a dental surgery in West Totton, Southampton in Hampshire. The pharmacy dispenses NHS and private prescriptions. It offers an extensive range of services such as Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), the New Medicine Service (NMS), supplies Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC), administers seasonal flu vaccinations and runs a travel clinic. The pharmacy supplies multi-compartment compliance aids to people if they find it difficult to manage their medicines. And, it provides medicines to residents in care homes.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Standards met

  Overall, the pharmacy manages risks associated with its services safely and effectively. Members of the pharmacy team monitor the safety of their services by recording their mistakes and reviewing them. The pharmacy protects people’s private information well. And, its team members proactively protect the welfare of vulnerable people. Most of the pharmacy’s records are maintained in accordance with the law. But some details about private prescriptions are missing from its records. This means that the team may not have all the information needed if problems or queries arise.

• Principle 2 – Staff

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has enough staff to manage its workload safely. Pharmacy team members understand their roles and responsibilities. They keep their skills and knowledge up to date by completing regular training.

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  The pharmacy's premises are clean, secure and provide a professional environment to deliver its services. The pharmacy has separate areas where confidential conversations and services can take place. But, the consultation rooms are kept unlocked and team members store sharps bins here. This means that unauthorised access is possible, and needle-stick injury could happen.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards met

  The pharmacy team is helpful and makes suitable adjustments to ensure the pharmacy's services are easily accessible to everyone. The pharmacy sources, stores and manages its medicines appropriately. In general, the pharmacy provides its services safely and effectively. But, the pharmacy’s team members don't always identify or record information when people are prescribed 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 appropriate equipment and facilities it needs to provide its services safely. Its equipment helps to protect the privacy of people. But, the pharmacy team does not always test some of its equipment regularly or record details about this. This could make it harder for them to show that the pharmacy is providing reliable results.

Inspection history summary