21st August 2015
Two more dispensing practices have garnered outstanding ratings by the Care Quality Commission. The Brown Clee Medical Centre in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, has been rated outstanding for its services, being caring and responsive to patients’ needs.
The practice provides dispensing services at both of its branch locations, with the CQC noting the total patient population of 3,300 has a high proportion aged 65 and above compared to the national average. Furthermore, the report stated that “the rural practice locations provide a service to a high percentage (39%) of patients who work the land (26%), farmers for example, and those who provide services to the rural community (13%)”.
The practice staff were acutely aware of their responsibilities and knew how to report incidents and near misses such as incorrectly labelled medicine. “The action and learning points derived from this included improved checks on medicine labelling, some supervised dispensing sessions and protocol changes in that all medicines are checked by two dispensers or a dispenser and GP.” Only two actions for improvement were highlighted by the report: Firstly, the practice must complete an Infection and Prevention Control audit; the second is to maintain appropriate recruitment records and introduce systems to verify staff registration with their appropriate professional bodies.
The second practice to receive the rating, East Leake Medical Group, was praised for its response to people’s needs and for being well-led. A ‘good’ rating was awarded for its services being safe, effective, and caring. The practice operates three locations with a patient population exceeding 12,000, with a dispensary at its Sutton Bonnington branch. It is currently participating in the challenge fund seven day access pilot. The CQC noted that the non-profit dispensary provides “a service to the community and its own patients, avoiding the need to travel.” Other areas praised were: Regular auditing of medicine and prescribing procedures; quality dispensing review meetings, the funding of dispensary staff to achieve NVQ qualifications; and having a pharmacy-qualified GP on staff to provide “robust and safe” dispensing and medicines management procedures and policies.