The PDA believe that those best placed to identify and then propose remedies to the specific risks for the pharmacy to the employers will be those on the frontline; the responsible pharmacists who are responsible for the safe and effective running of the pharmacy. It is then for those who have responsibilities placed upon them through health and safety legislation – the employers who control the financial resources – to agree on any safety measures that may be necessary.
Download the risk assessment tool here
Awareness of the urgent need for COVID-19 risk assessment should be high on priorities of all pharmacy employers. For example, NHS England wrote on 24 June to all NHS Trusts, CCGs, GP Practices, General Dental Practices, Community Pharmacists and Primary Care Optometrists
In the letter the NHS acknowledge that “As employers, we each have a legal duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of our own staff. Completing risk assessments for at-risk members of staff is a vital component of this. Thank you to the many of you who have completed risk assessments and continue to provide support for your at-risk staff during this challenging period. Some staff, however, are reporting that they are yet to have their risk assessment completed.”
In response to the NHS letter and other statements of the importance of risk asessement, the PDA reiterate that their risk assessment tool remains freely available to help responsible pharmacists and employers identify and remove risks. The tool was designed to enable a systematic approach to both assessing and managing the risks of COVID-19 in the community pharmacy as well as building resilience to prevent closures of community pharmacies.
Read more about the risk assessment tool here