A4. Introduction to community pharmacy

Question 1

who works in a community pharmacy?

Answer 1

-pharmacist
-technicians
-dispensing assistants
-medicine counter assistants
-delivery drivers

Question 2

what do community pharmacists do day to day?

Answer 2

-OTC consultations
-clinical checking of prescriptions
-accuracy checking of prescriptions
-supervision of sales over the counter and dispensary activities
-stock maintenance
-provision of services
-remote consultations
-mentoring, training and development

Question 3

what do pharmacist technicians do?

Answer 3

-support in dispensing process and daily running of pharmacy
-accuracy check prescriptions
-can be involved in other services e.g vaccinations and BP check

Question 4

What do dispensing assistants do?

Answer 4

-support pharmacist and technicians
-prescription processing
-stock management
-liaise with customers and suppliers
-accuracy check prescriptions

Question 5

what do medicine counter assistants do?

Answer 5

-first contact with patients
-can provide advice/ recommend medication
-know when to refer a patient
-support dispensary staff
-hand out dispensed prescriptions

Question 6

what is the standard operating procedures (SOPs)?

Answer 6

-every pharmacy has a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs)- they should be personalised to each branch
-must be followed to ensure quality and safety
-defines staff roles and responsibilities
-regularly reviewed

Question 7

Describe the pharmacy layout

Answer 7

-dispensary- where all prescriptions are processed and stock is kept
-medicines counter- sales of medicine, P medicines are kept behind this counter
-could have veterinary medicine
-general shop area- GSL medicines and other products sold
-consultation room- providing advice when patient does not want to be heard

Question 8

what ESSENTIAL services are offered in a community pharmacy?

Answer 8

Dispensing prescriptions, discharge medicines service, disposal of unwanted medicines, healthy living, health promotion, repeat dispensing

Question 9

what ADVANCED services are offered in a community pharmacy?

Answer 9

Pharmacy First, CPCS, Pharmacy contraception service, flu vaccination, hepatitis C testing, hypertension case finding, NMS, smoking cessation- community pharmacy do not have to provide any/ all, must meet requirements for supervision, paid, valuable funding opportunity

Question 10

what locally commissioned services do community pharmacies offer?

Answer 10

EHC, supervised consumption, emergency supply, minor ailments service, needle and syringe programmes and others- depends on local area and have to sign up and meet criteria to provide the services