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In-store pharmacies

Not eroding the profession

From Mr G. N. Parsons, MRPharmS

I would like to reply to A. Rahman (PJ, April 7, p465). As a full-time locum I have worked in a number of in-store pharmacies and have enjoyed my experiences. The stress level has not been high and the organisation of the dispensary and systems in place have all been professional. I have had no reason to criticise staff levels (a problem in many pharmacies) and I have often found that counselling patients has been a better experience than in other pharmacies. I generally have more time to counsel patients and have more transient patients passing through seeking my advice.

The streamlining of over-the-counter and pharmacy medicines is a growing area in every pharmacy and has more to do with the facts of how pharmacy is remunerated rather than a drive for profits per se. Every business from the smallest independent to the largest multiple seeks to improve profit and this streamlining is one of many methods. At the end of the day the greatest resource is the pharmacist at the helm and it is he or she who will have the greatest influence on profitability rather than the medicines available. Their “key formulary” products will usually be available and regular locums should have the facility to order their favourites.

Until pharmacy moves from being a profession remunerated on numbers rather than on service, commercialism will always be an aspect from the smallest to the largest operation. I do not believe the supermarkets are “eroding the profession” and I will continue to enjoy working in them in the future.

Graham Parsons
Plymouth, Devon

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