Patient forums must give written notice of pharmacy inspections
Patients' forums will need to give written notice before they can inspect community pharmacy premises.
Forums set up by primary care trusts in England gained the right to enter
and inspect premises used by community pharmacy contractors to provide
pharmaceutical services under the National Health Service from 1 December.
Directions sent by the Department of Health to PCTs make it clear that
contractors and other independent service providers only have to allow
inspections following a written request and at reasonable times. In addition,
persons making inspections have to be named in advance and must produce
written evidence of authority on request.
Contractors do not have to allow entry or inspection if they believe
that it will compromise the effective provision of health services or
patients’ safety, privacy or dignity. Inspection is restricted
to the parts of premises used to provide services and cannot include
parts used for residential accommodation.
Patients’ forums can also request relevant information from contractors,
but this must not breach patients’ rights to confidentiality unless
individuals have consented to such information being disclosed. |
