—> Please contact us on info@pharmaplusltd.co.uk for a demo. *** FREE TO PHARMAPLUS MEMBERS ***

Every community pharmacy is required to hold Standard Operating Procedures covering everything from controlled drug destruction to fire evacuation. In practice, most contractors inherit a folder of SOPs from a previous owner, a locum agency template, or a wholesaler pack, half relevant, half years out of date, and rarely written with their specific pharmacy in mind.

The PharmaPlus SOP Library was built to solve that properly rather than patch it. It currently holds 155 SOPs, organised into six sections, clinical and dispensing, emergency and occupational health, regulatory and compliance, business operations, health and safety, and human resources. Each one is written to the same standard, referenced against the current legislation or NHS specification it sits under, and structured so a pharmacy can adopt it directly rather than starting from a blank page.

Every SOP in the library follows the same format. Standard, non-negotiable content, the legal framework, the regulatory references, the core procedure, is locked and clearly marked. Pharmacy-specific detail, staff names, contact numbers, local arrangements, sits in clearly flagged editable fields, so a contractor can adapt each document to their own pharmacy in minutes rather than rewriting it from scratch. Where a procedure benefits from one, a decision flowchart is built in. Training and audit tables grow as staff complete sign-off. A version history and a formal sign-off page sit at the end of every document, and an overdue review banner flags automatically when a procedure falls due for its annual check.

The clinical and dispensing section is the largest, and covers considerably more than the core dispensing cycle. Alongside prescription receipt, controlled drug management, and repeat dispensing, it covers the full run of NHS advanced services, Pharmacy First across all seven pathways, NMS, DMS, the Pharmacy Contraception Service, flu and COVID-19 vaccination, hypertension case-finding, smoking cessation, and supervised consumption, medicines safety and optimisation, covering high-risk medicines, the Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme, and Yellow Card reporting, and private clinical services, including travel health, weight management, and private PGD governance. The emergency section covers acute medical emergencies and occupational exposure protocols in the detail a real incident demands, adrenaline dosing, PEP timelines, needlestick response, not a vague summary. Regulatory and compliance covers GPhC standards, NHS contractual obligations, and MHRA requirements. Business operations covers everything from stock and procurement through to financial controls and IT security. Health and safety covers premises risk, COSHH, and infection control. Human resources covers the full employment lifecycle, recruitment through to redundancy, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and statutory leave entitlements.

For contractors, the value is straightforward. A GPhC inspector does not want to see a generic template with the previous owner’s name still in it. They want to see a procedure that reflects how the pharmacy actually operates, signed, dated, and reviewed on schedule. The SOP Library gives every PharmaPlus member a genuine head start on that, professionally written, properly referenced, and ready to make their own.

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Full SOP list

Section 1, Clinical and Dispensing SOPs

1.1 Dispensing and Medicines Management

Receipt and Validation of Prescriptions Dispensing Process, Standard Workflow Accuracy Checking by Dispensing Technicians (ACT) Owing and Incomplete Prescriptions Emergency Supply of Prescription-Only Medicines Controlled Drugs, Supply, Record Keeping, and Audit Controlled Drugs, Instalment Dispensing and Supervised Consumption Handling of Returned Medicines and Sharps Near-Miss and Dispensing Error, Reporting and Review Responsible Pharmacist, Obligations and Absence Management Dispensing for Multi-Compartment Compliance Aids (MCA/MDS) EPS Prescription Endorsing, Claiming, and Submission Prescription Pricing Authority Queries and Clawback Management Patient Medication Records (PMR), Creation and Maintenance Repeat Dispensing Service

1.2 NHS Advanced and Enhanced Clinical Services

Pharmacy First, Sinusitis Clinical Pathway Pharmacy First, Sore Throat Clinical Pathway Pharmacy First, Acute Otitis Media Clinical Pathway Pharmacy First, Infected Insect Bite Clinical Pathway Pharmacy First, Impetigo Clinical Pathway Pharmacy First, Shingles Clinical Pathway Pharmacy First, Uncomplicated UTI in Women Clinical Pathway Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS), Including Emergency Hormonal Contraception New Medicine Service (NMS) Discharge Medicine Service (DMS) NHS Flu Vaccination Service, Including LAIV for Children Aged Two to Three Years NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Service Hypertension Case-Finding Service (HCFS) Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) Service, Where Commissioned Smoking Cessation Service, Including Varenicline and Cytisinicline PGDs from 2025/26 Supervised Methadone and Buprenorphine Consumption Needle and Syringe Programme (NSP), Where Commissioned Structured Medication Review (SMR) Support, Where Applicable NHS PGD Framework, Governance, Authorisation, and Staff Records

1.3 Medicines Safety and Optimisation

High-Risk Medicines Management Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP) Drug Interactions, Identification and Management Yellow Card Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Medicine Alerts, Drug Recalls, and Patient Safety Notifications Drug Shortage and Unavailability Management Unlicensed Medicines and Specials Medicines Optimisation and Deprescribing

1.4 Private Clinical Services and Private Prescriptions

Private Prescriptions, Receipt, Dispensing, and Record Keeping Pharmacist Independent Prescriber Services, Where Applicable Private PGD Framework, Governance and Superintendent Authorisation Travel Health Service, Risk Assessment and Consultation Weight Management Service, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Other Treatments Occupational Health Vaccination Service, Where Applicable

Section 2, Emergency and Occupational Health SOPs

2.1 Acute Medical Emergencies

Anaphylaxis, Recognition and Emergency Management Cardiac Arrest, Basic Life Support and AED Use Choking, Management in Adults and Children Hypoglycaemia, Recognition and Management Seizure, Recognition and Safe Management Stroke, FAST Recognition and Immediate Response Syncope and Vasovagal Collapse, Including Post-Vaccination Fainting Chest Pain and Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome Severe Asthma Attack Mental Health Crisis and Suicidal Ideation Suspected Overdose, Management and Naloxone Use

2.2 Occupational Exposure Protocols

Needlestick and Sharps Injury, Immediate Response Hepatitis B Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hepatitis C Post-Exposure Management HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEPSE) Following Occupational Exposure Blood or Body Fluid Splash to Skin or Mucous Membranes Pre-Exposure Hepatitis B Vaccination and Serology Verification for Staff Cytotoxic Medicine Skin or Eye Contamination

2.3 Security and Environmental Emergencies

Robbery and Violent Incident, Staff Safety Aggressive or Threatening Behaviour, De-escalation and Escalation Fire, Evacuation and Emergency Response Power Failure and Fridge Temperature Excursion

Section 3, Regulatory and Compliance SOPs

3.1 GPhC and Professional Standards

GPhC Standards for Registered Pharmacies, Self-Assessment and Inspection Readiness Superintendent Pharmacist Responsibilities Responsible Pharmacist, Registration, Obligations, and Absence Log Fitness to Practise, Raising Concerns About Registered Staff Pharmacy Premises Registration and Material Change Notification Pharmacy (P) Medicines Sales and Supervision Requirements Age-Restricted Medicines, Challenge 25 Policy Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine, Legal Sale Limits Responsible Sale of Medicines with Misuse Potential Record Retention and Destruction Schedule Data Protection, UK GDPR, and Patient Confidentiality

3.2 NHS Contractual Compliance

NHS Terms of Service, Essential Services Compliance Clinical Governance, Significant Event Review and CQI Programme NHS Opening Hours, Rota Management, and Closure Notification EPS Token, Paper Prescription Storage, and Disposal NHS Drug Tariff, Pricing, Endorsing, and Price Concession Application Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS), Annual Declarations and Evidence Summary Care Record (SCR), Access, Consent, and Audit Trail NHSmail, Acceptable Use, Security, and Spine Compliance Manage Your Service (MYS) Portal, Registrations and Monthly Declarations Pharmacy First, Bundling Requirements and Monthly Payment Eligibility

3.3 MHRA and Medicines Regulation

Controlled Drug Destruction, Authorised Procedures and Witness Requirements Wholesale Dealing Authorisation, Where Applicable Extemporaneous Preparation, Where Applicable

Section 4, Business Operations SOPs

4.1 Stock, Procurement, and Supply Chain

Medicines Ordering and Procurement Receipt and Checking of Deliveries Expiry Date Monitoring and Stock Rotation Cold Chain Management, Vaccines and Refrigerated Medicines Controlled Drug Ordering, Receipt, and Secure Storage Invoice Management and Purchase Ledger Manufacturer and Wholesaler Returns Formulary and OTC Product Range Management

4.2 Financial Controls

NHS Prescription Charge Collection and Exemption Verification Till Management and Cash Handling OTC Sales Reconciliation and Till Z-Read Private Service Invoicing and Fee Collection Business Continuity, IT Failure and PMR Downtime Business Continuity, Unplanned Pharmacy Closure Petty Cash Management Key Holder and Alarm System Management

4.3 IT, Communications, and Patient Services

PMR System, Access Controls, Data Entry, and Security Telephone and Patient Communication Standards Complaints Management, Receipt, Investigation, and Response Patient Satisfaction Surveys Information Governance and Cyber Security Online and Distance Selling Pharmacy Obligations, Where Applicable

Section 5, Health and Safety SOPs

5.1 Premises and General Safety

General Risk Assessment, Pharmacy Premises Fire Safety, Risk Assessment, Evacuation, and Equipment Maintenance Lone Working Safety CCTV Operation and Data Retention Premises Maintenance, Defect Reporting, and Pest Control Slips, Trips, and Falls Prevention

5.2 COSHH, Hazardous Substances, and PPE

COSHH Assessment, Hazardous Medicines and Chemicals Personal Protective Equipment, Selection, Use, and Disposal Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Medicines, Safe Handling and Spillage General Medicine Spillage Management Medical Gases, Storage and Handling, Where Applicable

5.3 Infection Prevention and Control

Standard Infection Control Precautions Consultation Room and Dispensary Cleaning Management of Infectious Illness in Staff Outbreak Management Sharps Safety and Single-Use Equipment Policy

Section 6, Human Resources SOPs

6.1 Recruitment, Onboarding, and Development

Recruitment and Selection Pre-Employment Checks, DBS, Right to Work, and Professional Registration Staff Induction Programme Probationary Period Management Pharmacist Foundation Trainee and Trainee Pharmacy Technician Supervision Mandatory Training, Schedule and Non-Completion Management Annual Appraisal and Performance Development Review Locum and Agency Staff Governance

6.2 Conduct, Performance, Wellbeing, and Absence

Disciplinary Procedure Grievance Procedure Short-Term Sickness Absence Management Long-Term Sickness Absence Management Staff Wellbeing, Stress, and Mental Health Flexible Working Requests Whistleblowing and Protected Disclosure

6.3 Statutory and Contractual Employment Obligations

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Leave Annual Leave Management TUPE, Transfer of Undertakings Redundancy Procedure Termination of Employment National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage Compliance Working Time Regulations Compliance

—> Please contact us on info@pharmaplusltd.co.uk for a demo. *** FREE TO PHARMAPLUS MEMBERS ***