From Mr B. S. James, MRPharmS
SIR,—I write in response to Mrs O’Neill’s letter (PJ, September
23, p445). I qualified as a
pharmacist this summer and have been working as a locum for a few months before
I start a PhD degree in October.
I would have thought that being a pharmacy assistant, Mrs O’Neill would
appreciate the responsibility that being a pharmacist entails. What she must
realise is that at the end of the day, the person accountable for every prescription
dispensed, every pharmacy medicine sold and all advice given, is the pharmacist
and I think that the money I have earned as a locum is certainly justifiable,
as I am sure Mrs O’Neill would think if she was suddenly faced with a pharmacist’s
responsibilities. I could not care if I have been qualified for 20 days or 20
years; the point is that I think I do the best job I can and to the highest
professional standards that have been taught to me by my university lecturers
and preregistration tutor.
I think that the wage a pharmacist earns, whether as an employee or as a locum,
also reflects on the work that one has to
do just to qualify. Prospective university students now need exceptionally high
academic qualifications to enter a pharmacy degree, which itself is very challenging.
I left university following years of studying with a £9,000 debt and to
read these ignorant and stupid remarks made by Mrs O’Neill is very insulting.
When a pharmacist is in one pharmacy all day, not just a few hours like many
assistants, why should they not sit down and read the newspaper if they get
the chance? I have been fortunate enough to work with good assistants who appreciate
that I usually work 12 hours and encourage me to have a break when I can and
I think that Mrs O’Neill’s remarks are embarrassing to both pharmacists
and pharmacy assistants.
Additionally, to say that hospital and industrial pharmacists “risk”
working in community is absurd. They too have worked hard for their qualifications
and deserve to earn some extra money if they wish. Knowing hospital pharmacists
and having worked with many as locums during my preregistration year, apart
from maybe being unfamiliar with some counter products, they are usually well-informed
on clinical issues, drug interactions and so on, and are more than capable of
dealing with a community pharmacy.
Finally, I would like to point out that what a pharmacist earns and what they
do at work is, quite frankly, none of Mrs O’Neill’s business and the
sooner she stops resenting it the better.
B. S. James
Cardiff