The third principle set outs out the requirement to ensure that the pharmacy environment is safe, appropriate and suitable for the delivery of pharmacy services. This includes ensuring the confidentiality and dignity of patients is protected, and the premises are secure and safeguarded from unauthorised access.

Maintaining privacy and patient confidentiality is an important part of principle three. The GPhC wants to ensure that patient dignity is upheld, so they state that there should be a quiet area in the pharmacy for staff to discuss sensitive or embarrassing subjects. This area should ideally be a consultation room but it is not always practical in every pharmacy, so an area away from the counter should be made available for this purpose.

The standards state that pharmacy premises should be safe, clean, properly maintained and suitable for the pharmacy services provided. This means that all areas of the pharmacy should be cleaned regularly e.g. dispensary, dispensary equipment, consultation area, shelving, floors, stock room, windows and fascias. A cleaning rota should be in place to ensure all areas of the pharmacy are cleaned regularly and records should also be kept. As part of the cleaning rota dispensary staff should clean and defrost the fridges.

The correct disposal of waste, whether that be clinical or confidential patient information, is very important in pharmacy. Many of you will be aware that there are strict processes in place for the disposal of clinical waste, returned medicines and out of date stock, and accurate records must be kept. However, are you also aware that patient information must be stored and disposed of in the correct manner to ensure confidentiality. Sensitive information about patients such as paper records for MUR, NMS or repeat dispensing, amongst others, should be kept in a locked storage unit. If confidential information needs to be disposed of, it should be shredded or disposed of appropriately. For example, using a confidential waste bin that has its contents regularly collected by an authorised waste contractor.

Recommendation - pharmacies should have confidential waste bins that all staff should use to dispose of any printed information containing patient details.

As outlined in principle one, all computer screens should be locked when they are not in use and only pharmacy staff should be able to access the screens.

Security in a pharmacy is very important particularly in the dispensary due to the availability of controlled drugs, prescription medication and patient information. No one other than pharmacy staff should be allowed to enter the dispensary. If you have to allow someone into the dispensary, for example an IT engineer to fix the PMR system, they should be supervised, all patient information should be put out of sight and the keys to the controlled drugs cabinets should be kept by the pharmacist at all times.

In addition, all staff should be aware of the pharmacy’s security procedures for non-sales floor areas and how to challenge strangers.