G P h C P RI N C I P L E 3: ACT I O N P L A N
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.
3.1 PREMISES ARE SAFE, CLEAN, PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SUITABLE FOR THE PHARMACY SERVICES PROVIDED
Question
1 Does the shop front and window give
a professional appearance to the
pharmacy?
2 What posters are on display that can be
seen at the front of the pharmacy?
3 Is there evidence to show that
maintenance issues are managed?
4 Is date checking up to date?
5 Is there a cleaning rota in place?
Details of action required Reference Comments Actioned
Ensure the outside space creates a
professional image and all windows and
doors are clean.
Possible posters: GPhC poster
• Opening hours.
• No smoking or vaping.
• No dogs.
• CCTV.
The pharmacy premises are tidy and in
a good state of repair. Document any
maintenance issues, including actions
taken, person you have spoken to, any
reference numbers and the timeframe
given to complete the work. If not
completed within that timeframe, who is
responsible to sort.
Date checking is up to date and all areas Numark Date
are included. Once an area has been check for
checked, person carrying out the task dispensary stock
should sign and date so pharmacy know SOP
when it needs to be date checked again.
Numark Date
(Usually every 12 weeks).
check for counter
There should also be a list of short dated
stock SOP
products.
Premises should be visibly clean both Numark Cleaning
internally and externally. There should be rota template
evidence that the pharmacy is cleaned
regularly and all areas of the pharmacy
premises have been covered.
6 Has the pharmacy completed a general
risk assessment for any hazards that
could occur in the pharmacy?
7 Has the pharmacy completed a fire risk
assessment? Are all fire exit doors and
escape routes clear?
3.2 PREMISES PROTECT THE PRIVACY, DIG NITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENTS AND THE PUBLIC WHO RECEIVE
PHARMACY SERVICES
Question
8 Is the consultation room tidy, clean and
free from clutter?
9 Are appropriate safeguards in place to
protect patient confidentiality at the
front counter?
a) If confidential conversations can easily
be heard by other customers
10 Are appropriate safeguards in place to
protect patient confidentiality at the
front counter?
b) If bag labels and prescription details
can be read on prescriptions in the
retrieval area
Complete a general risk assessment Numark Risk
annually. All pharmacy members should assessment
review the assessment, sign and confirm template
they are aware of the hazards and controls
in place in the pharmacy.
All fire exit doors and escape routes are UK Safety
clear. The route must be clear of stock or Management - Fire
totes to allow a swift exit. Doors should be risk assessment
able to be opened in a single motion e.g.
push bar doors or easily opened via thumb
locks or similar.
Details of action required Reference Comments Actioned
Ensure the consultation room is presented Numark
in a professional manner, clear of clutter Consultation room
and appropriate to deliver clinical services. guidance
The room should be clearly signposted for
the availability of private and confidential
conversations. No stock should be stored
in the consultation room.
Where appropriate, offer the consultation Numark - Data
room as a confidential area to discuss protection and
issues with the patient. When taking security policy
telephone calls, take care to ensure that
Numark - Privacy
conversations going on near the telephone
notice
cannot be overheard by the caller. Move
away from the front counter, or, turn away
from patient areas when engaging in
confidential discussions to minimise the
risk of the details being overheard.
Bag labels and prescription details on Numark Handing
prescriptions in the retrieval area must not out prescriptions
be legible from the front counter. SOP
11 Are appropriate safeguards in place to
protect patient confidentiality at the
front counter?
c) If patient PMR details are left on display
on the computer under the front counter
when not in use
To ensure patients at the counter do not Numark - GDPR
oversee confidential information, make
sure all data is cleared when not in use.
Confidential paperwork should not be
stored at the front counter.

3.3 PREMISES ARE MAINTAINED TO A LEVEL OF HYG IENE APPROPRIATE TO THE PHARMACY SERVICES PROVIDED
Question Details of action required Reference Comments Actioned

12 Are the sinks clean and tidy? All sinks must be clean and tidy, with
hot and cold running water. Do not leave
used cups / plates and glasses, conical /
measuring cylinders in them, wash them
straight after use. If you have more than
one sink please have one separate just
for medicine use. Make sure you have
antibacterial wash and paper towels at
each sink.
13 Is there a handwashing poster available? Make sure that you have a handwashing NHS -
poster up. handwashing
poster
14 Are toilet facilities appropriate for the A supply of toilet paper and, for female HSE welfare at
pharmacy? colleagues, a means of disposing of work
sanitary dressings must be available. There
must be access to soap or other washing
agents and a means of drying hands, e.g.
paper towels or a hot air dryer.
15 What arrangements are in place Hygiene and infection control
for specialist services (for example arrangements are in place for specialist
vaccination services) services. This includes but is not limited to
gloves, sterile wipes and sharps boxes.

16 Are staff areas clean? Staff welfare facilities are clean and well
maintained.
3.4 PREMISES ARE SECURE AND SAFEGUARDED FROM UNAUTHORISED ACCESS
Question Details of action required Reference Comments Actioned

17 Are back doors to the pharmacy premises In order to maintain security of the GPhC -general
secure, maintained and kept locked when premises, employee safety and personal risk reduction
not in use? data confidentiality, the pharmacy back assessment
doors must be kept secure at all times.
Ensure that all external buildings / storage
areas are kept locked and secure when not
in use.
18 Are intruder alarms and shutters fully Intruders alarms should be operational
functional? when the pharmacy is closed. If the
pharmacy has shutters, these should also
be well maintained and operational.

19 Are there restricted areas in the pharmacy There is a physical barrier to prevent
where members of the public should not unauthorised access to restricted areas.
have access?
20 Does the pharmacy have panic alarms? Pharmacy staff are familiar with the
location of the pharmacy panic buttons
which are to be used in an emergency.

3.5 PHARMACY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROVISION OF
HEALTHCARE
Question Details of action required Reference Comments Actioned

21 Is the temperature of the pharmacy kept Room temperatures are appropriately HSE - workplace
well maintained? maintained to keep staff comfortable and facilities
are suitable for the storage of medicines.
22 Is there a suitable waiting area, which is Areas where patients may need to wait are
kept clean? appropriate, suitable and clean.
23 Is there a suitable consultation room, Areas where patients receive clinical consultation room
which is kept clean services are appropriate, suitable and standards
clean.
24 Is there suitable lighting throughout the All areas of the pharmacy are well lit.
pharmacy