Working in a Pharmacy Environment

Question 1

What are the main skills for pharmacy work?

Answer 1

communication skills
teamwork
accuracy and attention to detail
good organisational skills
empathy and compassion

Question 2

Describe a community pharmacy.

Answer 2

A retail shop front with a dispensary where medications are stored and dispensed. The registered pharmacy premises are subject to pharmacy legislation, with requirements for storage conditions, equipment, etc.

Question 3

Describe a hospital pharmacy.

Answer 3

They are located on the premises of the hospital, they usually stock a larger range of medicines, including more specialised medicines, than would be feasible in the community setting. They dispense medicines for inpatients on wards and are predominantly run by dispensary staff.
Some hospitals have outpatient pharmacies that dispense medicines for outpatients and may also sell over-the-counter medicines to staff and to the public.

Question 4

Describe a dispensing practice.

Answer 4

They can be found in rural locations where a patient may find it difficult to obtain their medicines from a community pharmacy. Dispensing practices are not regulated in the same way as pharmacies and the team usually consists of dispensing assistants and pharmacy technicians. A pharmacist is not required to supervise the staff. The dispensary will be located within the practice and only prescribed medicines can be supplied.

Question 5

What training do Pharmacists do?

Answer 5

Uni to get a degree in pharmacy,
Pre-registration training year
Professional registration exam
Join the register of pharmacy professionals held by the GPhC.

Question 6

What is the role of the Pharmacist?

Answer 6

The pharmacist is responsible for all the activities that take place in the pharmacy and is an expert in their field and well-placed to advise patients and other healthcare professionals on the actions/uses of medicines.

Question 7

What training do Pharmacy Technicians do?

Answer 7

Two years as pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians (PTPT) whilst studying a suitable programme.
register with the GPhC in order to practise.

Question 8

What are Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technicians?

Answer 8

Pharmacy technicians who have completed a further course that allows them to do the final accuracy check of dispensed medicines.

Question 9

What is a DRUM review?

Answer 9

Dispensing Review of Use of Medicines.

Question 10

What training do dispensing assistants do?

Answer 10

Either completed a suitable training course to meet the minimum compulsory requirement for dispensary staff or have been working in pharmacy a long time and have been declared competent.

Question 11

What does the course for MCA’s involve?

Answer 11

questioning techniques
uses of medicines sold over the counter
receipt and issuing of prescriptions

Question 12

Who will you interact with as an MCA?

Answer 12

patients
industry-based drug representatives
delivery drivers or hospital porters
carers
relatives of patients
a variety of healthcare professionals
members of regulatory organisations e.g. GPhC or Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors

Question 13

Who sets the standards for conduct, ethics, and performance for pharmacy professionals?

Answer 13

the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Question 14

List some of the main points of the GPhC standards.

Answer 14

Make the care of the person your first priority
Be polite, honest and trustworthy
Behave in a professional manner at all times, not just during work hours and not limited to face-to-face communications
Follow the relevant guidelines and procedures
Show respect for others and protect their confidentiality and privacy
Work in partnership with others and communicate effectively
Maintain and develop your knowledge and skills
Take responsibility for your own actions
Recognise the limits of your own knowledge and skills, seek agreement or permission from others, and refer to someone else for help when appropriate
Speak up when you have concerns or when things go wrong

Question 15

What is a SOP?

Answer 15

Detailed instructions on how to perform a task or tasks. They support safe working systems and minimise risks in the workplace.

Question 16

What is Information Governance?

Answer 16

It refers to the way that information is managed at your workplace. This includes sensitive and confidential information about patients, their health and their treatment.

Question 17

Give some examples of how information is governed in the workplace?

Answer 17

Having password-protected access to sensitive information, which allows only authorised individuals to access this information
Making sure passwords are not shared with other people
Taking care to keep data secure, such as keeping antivirus software on the workplace IT systems up to date
Recording, storing and retrieving information in accordance with organisational procedures
Disposing of sensitive data in confidential waste bins, e.g. paperwork containing patient details

Question 18

How do you apply data protection in the workplace?

Answer 18

Patient consent for services
Protecting against unauthorised access
NHS Digital - opting out

Question 19

What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

Answer 19

It deals with access to official information and gives individuals or organisations the right to request information from any public authority. It sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities.

Question 20

How do you go about requesting information from a public authority (e.g the NHS)

Answer 20

Written requests that the public authority needs to reply within 20 working days.

Question 21

What is whistleblowing?

Answer 21

Raising concerns about malpractice or safety which affects colleagues, patients, employers or the wider public.

Question 22

Why should you report concerns?

Answer 22

In order to protect patient safety and adhere to clinical governance.

Question 23

What is CPD?

Answer 23

Continuing Professional Development

Question 24

What are the 4 steps in CPD?

Answer 24

Reflection
Planning
Action
Evaluation

Question 25

What is PDP?

Answer 25

Personal Development Planning

Question 26

What is a hazard?

Answer 26

Something with the potential to cause harm.

Question 27

Examples of hazards

Answer 27

Articles, substances, machines, methods of work, the working environment

Question 28

What is a risk?

Answer 28

The probability that a hazard will cause harm

Question 29

What does the extent of a risk depend on. list 3 things

Answer 29

The likelihood of harm occurring
The potential severity of that harm
The number of people exposed

Question 30

What is The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?

Answer 30

the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the UK.

Question 31

What are an employer’s responsibilities?

Answer 31

Safe workplace, prevent risks to health
Safe working practices set up
All materials handled, stored and used safely
Adequate 1st aid
Set up emergency plans
Report accidents, injuries, diseases.

Question 32

Employee’s rights

Answer 32

risks to health and safety controlled
free PPE
can tell employer about health and safety concerns

Question 33

Employee’s responsibilites

Answer 33

Take care of one’s health and safety, as well as others.
co-operate with employer, making sure you get proper training

Question 34

What is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation 2013?

Answer 34

Work-related accidents that cause death or major injuries must be reported to the HSE via the Incident Contact Centre.
employers must keep a record of accidents at work

Question 35

What are the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992?

Answer 35

Employers must assess the risk from manual handling and reduce it wherever possible. Must also give manual handling training

Question 36

What is the Health and Safety Regulation 1992?

Answer 36

Employers must identify “users” of display screen equipment; that is those employees who use it as an essential part of their work. They must then assess their workstations to ensure they meet minimum standards and also provide information, training and instruction on the safe use and potential hazards of the equipment

Question 37

What is the Electricity at Work Regulation 1989?

Answer 37

Employers have a legal responsibility to maintain electrical equipment and arrange for appliances to be checked regularly by a qualified electrician.