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The Profession

Practice is neither interesting nor exciting

From Mr I. V. Wood, MRPharmS

It is with regret that I find myself writing to you with concern regarding the profession of pharmacy. As a pharmacist who qualified only last July, I left university having thoroughly enjoyed my degree course and was looking forward to an exciting and interesting career. However, this has not been the case.

It would appear to me that pharmacy is a heavily flawed profession. Job satisfaction is poor; I spend most of my time sitting at a computer typing labels or filing prescriptions.

The need for all my pharmacology, physiology and toxicology training, etc, would seem to be minimal. Pharmacists work long hours mostly with no breaks and often under conditions failing to meet basic European employment law.

Why does the Royal Pharmaceutical Society not intervene? Why does it not impose maximum working hours or minimum break requirements? Surely it is clear that these kind of practices which are extremely widespread only endanger the safety of the public and the health of the pharmacist.

All of this is for a salary which could be matched by working as a manager for a fast food restaurant. Do pharmacists' wages really reflect their level of training, expertise, workload and responsibility? The short answer is “no”. Perhaps an expertise-based scale, implemented on a national level would be more appropriate.

Alternatively, how about being paid for clinical effectiveness rather than per item.

Continuing professional development is another problem. After most pharmacists return home from their nine- to 14-hour day at work, expecting them to participate in the measly amount of spare personal time they have left is at best ambitious and, considering they receive no payment for this, is deemed by most to be unfair.

I must say there is equal disappointment with the Society, which, as I understand, is supposed to represent its members and actively promote the profession to both the public and Government. However the Society would appear to do little in either of these regards. It would indeed do very well to follow the examples set by the British Medical Association and the British Dental Association, both of which fulfil their roles in an exemplary fashion.

I know many pharmacists are now pondering over whether to remain in the profession. All my colleagues except one are now already considering alternative careers. Urgent action is needed to prevent further loss of pharmacists.

Ian Wood
Ashford,Kent

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