From Mr S. Curtis, MRPharmS
SIR,—I usually get a little nervous towards the end of the month, waiting to see what my cheque will be from the Prescription Pricing Authority. Over recent months its guesstimates have proven to be very wrong, causing massive differences between successive payments, which in turn cause great difficulties in the control of my cash flow.
Two months ago I had an incredibly small cheque, which required me obtaining a loan at very short notice to cover the short fall; but at least I had a few days' notice. Last month my wholesalers were asking for cheques to be received by December 17, backdated for banking on December 30. But I will not know how much the PPA is going to pay me until well after it is too late to do anything about it, since all the banks will be closed and I will be on holiday. My stomach is already getting nervy, since the cheques I have to write may not be honoured. My wholesalers are offering me no leeway, and the PPA is unable to give me early notification. I enjoy the odd gamble, but this is a pretty major bet, with major repercussions if it does not go in my favour.
I do not understand why the PPA should be allowed to get away with such poor service. We all understand the excuses it is giving, what with Category D causing havoc, and not enough staff to deal with an ever-growing backlog. But if this was affecting any other group of people, I am sure their paymasters would be taken to court, or forced to bring the situation back to order in quick time. I have already taken out one loan, with its concomitant costs and obligations. If I need to take out another, through no fault of my own, or if I go overdrawn and have cheques bouncing throughout January, who is going to pay my ludicrous bank charges?
Perhaps I should not be going on holiday over such a sensitive period, not that being here would make any difference. Still, as a wise man once said: "If you know you're going under, buy a Rolls Royce, and take a nice holiday." Now, where's a good Porsche dealership?
Steven Curtis
Stanmore, Middlesex