We set the standards for registered pharmacies in Great Britain to make sure that every pharmacy has the right environment for safe and effective care. To help pharmacy owners achieve this, we provide guidance to support them.
Pharmacies play a key role in communities, hospitals and services around the UK to keep people healthy and well. The role that pharmacies play has never been more important, and it’s vital that patients’ safety is at the heart of every pharmacy.
That’s why our standards for pharmacies are designed to maintain the principles for safe and effective care and drive improvements in services provided to patients and the public
Although pharmacy owners have the overall responsibility for meeting the standards, it’s important that every pharmacy professional knows and understands them.
To support pharmacies to maintain our standards, we’ve provided guidance to help. It covers how to meet the standards and supports pharmacy owners to make decisions.
Standards
As a pharmacy owner, you’re responsible for the safe running of the pharmacy to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
The purpose of these standards is to create and maintain the right environment in every registered pharmacy in Great Britain.
All staff in the pharmacy team should be familiar with these standards, however pharmacy owners are accountable for making sure that the standards are met.
The principles for registered pharmacies
The standards are grouped under five principles:
- the governance arrangements safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public
- staff are empowered and competent to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public
- the environment and condition of the premises from which pharmacy services are provided, and any associated premises, safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public
- the way in which pharmacy services, including the management of medicines and medical devices, are delivered safeguards the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public
- the equipment and facilities used in the provision of pharmacy services safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public
Standards for registered pharmacies
Guidance
Pharmacy owners are responsible for providing safe and effective care. To support you to put the standards into practice, we’ve produced guidance to help.
Everyone within the pharmacy team should be aware of this guidance, but pharmacy owners are responsible for making sure it’s followed.
Guidance to ensure a safe and effective pharmacy team
Read this guidance to understand what owners should do to ensure a safe and effective pharmacy team and meet the standards set out under Principle 2 of the standards for registered pharmacies.
Guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services at a distance, including on the internet
This guidance explains what pharmacy owners should consider before deciding whether any parts of their pharmacy service can be provided safely and effectively at a distance, including on the internet.
Guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services at a distance
Guidance for registered pharmacies preparing unlicensed medicines
This guidance sets out what pharmacy owners should consider when a registered pharmacy prepares medicines, including the preparation of extemporaneously prepared methadone.
Equality guidance for pharmacies
This guidance sets out to support pharmacy owners and the wider pharmacy team in understanding and meeting the standards for registered pharmacies in ways that encourage equality of opportunity and respect for diversity.