From Mrs S. M. E. Cockbill, FRPharmS
SIR,—It was with great pleasure that I read in The Journal that the Council had finally approved the change of name of the Agricultural and Veterinary Pharmacists Group to the Veterinary Pharmacists Group (PJ, February 12, p251).
As a long-standing member of the group and the person responsible for the undergraduate course in veterinary pharmacy at the Welsh school of pharmacy in Cardiff, I, in conjunction with several colleagues, have felt for some time that the old name did not truly reflect the expertise and activities of the group or give encouragement to those pharmacists who were thinking about becoming more involved with this rewarding aspect of the profession.
Pharmacists are, as we are continually being reminded, the experts on medicines and, within appropriate legal boundaries, this expertise can be extended to animal care. The incidence of zoonotic diseases is on the increase and the community pharmacist is in an ideal position to add counselling on the avoidance of these often unpleasant ailments to his or her armamentarium. This, in the current climate of the increasing importance of companion animals to the elderly, in particular, will be a valuable contribution to the harmony necessary for co-existence between man and other species.
Another valid reason for the change of name is to move away from the agricultural emphasis. There is no doubt that the same sentiments already expressed with regard to pharmaceutical input towards the care of companion animals can also be applied to larger animals such as horses, cattle, pigs and goats, etc, but it is over-ambitious of us as a profession to think we can become seriously involved with crops unless we have successfully undertaken relevant extensive courses and understand the complex issues involved. We do not cover adequately this increasingly significant area at an undergraduate or postgraduate level and therefore simply do not have the necessary expertise.
We shall wait to see whether one of the areas of confusion has been eliminated by the change of name of the group and I would urge community pharmacists practising in both urban and rural areas to become more involved with veterinary care. Members of the group committee are approachable and helpful so if readers have any questions as to the logistics and commercial implications of establishing a veterinary section in their pharmacies they should not hesitate to contact them. Should they feel that they lack the necessary expertise of confidence to involve themselves in this area then they should consider enrolling for the Society's agricultural and veterinary diploma [see p342] which is now taught in a modular form, so it is possible to choose one or two modules (or more) to cover the areas which are of particular interest to them without necessarily completing the whole course. Further details of the diploma are available from the Society as are the names of group members.
Sarah Cockbill
Chepstow, Monmouthshire