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A branch of Jhoots Pharmacy in the West Midlands has been slapped with a GPhC improvement notice after an inspection indicated that prescriptions may have been assembled and dispensed without a responsible pharmacist (RP) present. 

Fourteen months after the company’s former superintendent pharmacist received a formal warning over breaches of the RP rules in two Jhoots stores, a June 3 inspection of a branch in Brierley Hill Health and Social Care Centre in Dudley raised similar concerns. 

The inspector, who visited the pharmacy after receiving a tip-off, found “evidence to suggest” the team was dispensing prescriptions and supplying medicines “via other services” with no RP signed in or present. 

The GPhC inspector also reported that the pharmacy had failed to demonstrate that “its team members fully understand their roles and responsibilities”.

And there was a risk that some services were being carried out by people who lacked “the suitable knowledge and skills that are required to deliver them safely,” the inspector wrote. 

Elaborating on this last point, they found that resources including patient group directives are “not always accessible to pharmacy team members” and that evidence suggested “some services may be provided outside of written instructions”.

This “increases the risk of inappropriate or unsafe supplies being made,” they added. 

These oversights led to the branch failing its inspection and being ordered to improve its operations by July 21 this year. 

The GPhC ordered the branch to comply with RP regulations and “ensure team members are clear about what tasks can and cannot be completed” when no RP is present.

“Training records to demonstrate this must be maintained,” said the regulator as it also ordered the branch to maintain a business continuity plan and ensure this is communicated to all staff members. 

The Brierley Hill branch was told to make a number of additional improvements, including:

• Enrolling staff on training courses within three months of starting their role
• Training staff on how they can raise concerns “within the pharmacy” and making records of this training being completed
• Being able to demonstrate that pharmacy team members – including pharmacists – have undertaken the training required to deliver Pharmacy First and other services
• Making SOPs available to staff detailing how services should operate.

It is unclear whether the company’s current superintendent pharmacist has received a formal warning following the inspection. The GPhC has been approached for comment. 

Jhoots Pharmacy has also been approached for comment.