From Mr D. Livingstone, MRPharmS
SIR,-At the August Council meeting when the National Health Service national plan was discussed, the President apparently expressed the view that "no one could state that pharmacy had been marginalised in the proposals" (PJ, August 12, p226). I have to disagree.
Mention of pharmacy is scant and there is limited appreciation of the medicines expertise of pharmacists, no mention of improved terms and conditions of service or the national shortage of pharmacists (cf nurses and therapists).
The Society and pharmacists will never achieve true recognition or respect while the Council shows such inappropriate gratitude when thrown a few crumbs by the Department of Health. Similarly, the naive optimism expressed regarding the imminent unveiling of the Government's grand plan for pharmacy appears misplaced.
Cynical? Me? Perhaps, but I do remember that some considerable time ago a certain Mr Dobson (remember him!) was going to announce a new golden age for the profession. Luckily I did not hold my breath.
Duncan Livingstone
North Lancing, West Sussex