Allied Pharmacy TauntonGPhC

Pharmacy context

The pharmacy is next to a medical practice in Taunton. It sells over-the-counter medicines and dispenses NHS and private prescriptions. The pharmacy team offers advice to people about minor illnesses and long-term conditions. The pharmacy offers services including flu vaccinations, the NHS New Medicine Service (NMS) and the NHS Pharmacy First service. The pharmacy measures people’s blood pressure as part of the NHS Hypertension Case Finding Service and offers NHS Health Checks. The pharmacy supplies medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs to people who need help to remember when to take them. It also supplies medicines and advice to people who use drugs. And it delivers medicines to people’s homes.

Standards by principle

• Principle 1 – Governance

  Standards not all met

  The pharmacy generally provides its services safely and effectively. But the pharmacy does not keep all the records required by law and does not have good governance procedures for the management of controlled drugs. The pharmacy has written procedures in place to help ensure that its team members work safely. And these procedures are reviewed and updated regularly. Team members record any mistakes they make and review them to identify the cause. The pharmacy team then makes the necessary changes to stop mistakes from happening again. The pharmacy asks people for their feedback on its services and responds appropriately. It has the required insurance in place to cover its services. The pharmacy keeps people’s private information safe. Pharmacy team members know how to protect the safety of vulnerable people.

• Principle 2 – Staff

  Standards met

  The pharmacy employs enough people to manage its workload. Team members are trained to deliver their roles and keep their skills up to date by completing regular learning activities. They are confident to suggest and make changes to the way they work to improve their services. Team members communicate effectively. And they work well together to deliver the pharmacy’s services.

• Principle 3 – Premises

  Standards met

  The pharmacy's premises provide an appropriate environment from which to deliver its services. And its premises are suitably clean and secure. People using the pharmacy can have conversations with team members in a private area.

• Principle 4 – Services

  Standards not all met

  The pharmacy obtains its medicines from reputable suppliers. It mostly stores them securely and makes regular checks to ensure that they are still suitable for supply. But the pharmacy does not always store its controlled drugs appropriately and in accordance with legal requirements. The pharmacy does not make adequate checks that medicines requiring refrigeration are stored appropriately. The pharmacy team make sure that people with different needs can access its various services. The pharmacy supplies medicines safely to people with appropriate advice to ensure they are used correctly. Team members take steps to identify people prescribed high-risk medicines to ensure that they are given additional information. The pharmacy accepts unwanted medicines and disposes of them appropriately.

• Principle 5 – Equipment

  Standards met

  The pharmacy has the appropriate equipment and facilities to provide its services. It keeps these clean, tidy and well-maintained. The pharmacy uses its equipment in a way that protects people’s confidential information.

Inspection history summary