From Mr L. S. R. Baker, MRPharmS
SIR,-I suppose after 35 years in the profession it should come as no surprise to me that of the 130-plus "modernisation action team members" involved in the NHS plan (PJ, August 5, p182) there is no mention of a pharmacist.
I am aware that Professor Blenkinsopp is a pharmacist, but she does not appear to be representing the profession other than in a "medicines management" capacity. It is a sad reflection that, while the advice of dietitians, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientific officers, etc, has been sought and acknowledged, the courtesy does not seem to have been extended to our profession.
I consider it incomprehensible, too, that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain does not appear to have signed up to the document.
Surely some explanation as to the apparent exclusion of the profession is obligatory.
Put another way, how can all our representative bodies, including the Society, the National Pharmaceutical Association, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, etc, have allowed this sorry state of affairs to have occurred?
L. S. R. Baker
Head of Pharmacy, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull
See PJ, August 5, p192. - EDITOR.