Clinical Governance

What is 'clinical governance' in pharmacy?

• AJust keeping records
• BA system to ensure high standards of care, continuous improvement, and accountability in medicines management✓
• CPharmacy staff rotas
• DInventory counting

Answer: Clinical governance provides a framework for patient safety, quality improvements, professional accountability, and risk management.

What is a 'Standard Operating Procedure' (SOP) in pharmacy?

• AA guidance document only
• BA detailed written procedure describing how a specific task should be performed consistently✓
• CMarketing material
• DStaff holiday schedule

Answer: SOPs are detailed written procedures ensuring all staff follow standardised, safe, and effective practices for pharmacy operations.

What is the purpose of 'clinical audit' in pharmacy?

• ATo find fault with staff
• BTo systematically review pharmacy practice against standards to identify improvements✓
• CJust checking stock
• DReducing costs only

Answer: Clinical audit measures actual practice against agreed standards and implements changes to improve quality and safety.

What is a 'near-miss' incident in pharmacy?

• AMinor staff arguments
• BAn error or hazardous situation that could have caused harm but was prevented✓
• CLate delivery
• DAbsent staff

Answer: A near-miss is a potential error that was caught before reaching the patient, providing valuable learning to prevent future harm.

What should happen when a serious medication error occurs?

• AHide it to avoid blame
• BImmediately report it to the pharmacist, investigate, inform the patient/prescriber, and report through incident systems✓
• CJust tell the patient
• DWait until the end of the day

Answer: Serious errors must be reported immediately, investigated thoroughly, disclosed to affected parties, and reported through appropriate channels.

What is a 'patient safety incident'?

• APatient complaint only
• BAny unintended or unexpected incident that harmed or had potential to harm a patient✓
• CPatient absence
• DBilling error

Answer: Patient safety incidents include errors, near-misses, and adverse events affecting patient safety. All must be reported and investigated.

What is 'incident reporting' in healthcare?

• ATelling colleagues
• BFormal documentation and reporting of safety incidents through official systems for analysis and learning✓
• CCasual discussion
• DManager feedback only

Answer: Incident reporting systems (e.g., NHS England's Datix) collect, analyze, and learn from safety events to prevent recurrence.

What is 'root cause analysis' (RCA)?

• AJust blaming staff
• BA systematic investigation to identify underlying causes and contributing factors of an incident✓
• CQuick explanation
• DWriting an apology

Answer: RCA investigates incidents deeply to understand root causes and system failures, enabling preventive improvements.

What is 'medicines optimisation'?

• AIncreasing medicine sales
• BA systematic approach to ensure medicines are appropriate, effective, safe, and improve patient outcomes✓
• CReducing prescriptions
• DPharmacy profit only

Answer: Medicines optimisation ensures patients receive the right medicine at the right dose for the right indication with best outcomes.

What is 'deprescribing review' as part of clinical governance?

• APreventing prescriptions
• BSystematic review of medicines to identify and safely discontinue inappropriate medications✓
• CEmergency supply
• DPharmacy restocking

Answer: Deprescribing reviews identify medications that no longer benefit patients and safely reduce/stop them to improve outcomes.

What is a 'quality assurance' programme in pharmacy?

• ACustomer service only
• BA systematic programme to ensure pharmacy services meet quality standards and best practice✓
• CStaff training alone
• DMarketing campaign

Answer: Quality assurance combines SOPs, audits, training, monitoring, and continuous improvement to maintain high service standards.

What is 'risk management' in pharmacy?

• AAvoiding all medicine use
• BIdentifying, assessing, and minimizing risks to patient safety and service quality✓
• CStaff conflicts
• DInventory issues

Answer: Risk management identifies potential hazards, assesses likelihood/impact, and implements controls to minimize patient safety risks.