From Mrs R. Baker, MRPharmS
SIR,—Short of cash after Christmas? Stop worrying. Move to Manchester where the local pharmaceutical committee will arrange for you to be paid to contravene the Medicines Act.
There is currently no facility within the Medicines Act for pharmacists to supply prescription only medicines under a group protocol such as that currently in place in the Manchester area for the supply of emergency hormonal contraception (PJ, January 8, p44).
Anyone care to join me in flogging counterfeit Viagra at the back of the market? (Group protocol and training will, of course, be provided.)
Rosemary Baker
Hoylake, Wirral
Mrs SUSAN SHARPE (the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's director of professional standards) states: Supply of specific medicines, including emergency hormonal contraception, by nurses acting under protocols carefully drawn up and authorised by medical practitioners is well established in the National Health Service. Pharmacists are in no different position legally from nurses.
I am not aware of any legal authority to support Mrs Baker's apparently categorical view that these arrangements contravene the Medicines Act.
Ms MELANIE OGDEN, Ms KAREN O'BRIEN, and Ms HELEN McKNIGHT, of Manchester Health Authority, and Mr PAUL BENSON (chairman, Manchester local pharmaceutical committee) write: The Crown report published in March, 1999, drew attention to real world situations where innovative ideas to provide services to patients were currently in practice.
The report specifically states that current safe and effective practice should continue, but wishes to see peer review of processes and clear lines of accountability.
The service presented in Manchester, Salford and Trafford is an extension of sexual health and contraceptive services currently undertaken by family planning nurses. This initiative has opened partnerships across health care professions within both primary and secondary care and explores new methods of service delivery for patients.
Pharmacy must be at the forefront of the delivery of patient services as a vital member of the primary health care team. We are delighted that the Manchester and the Salford and Trafford local pharmaceutical committees have accepted the challenge of moving pharmacy into the New Age in a responsible and professional manner.