The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 266 No 7152 p815-820
June 16, 2001

  RPM
  In-store pharmacies
  Pharmacy medicines
  Patient packs
  The Profession
  Future of pharmacy
  Coronary heart disease
  Influenza
  Checking technicians
  Dianette
  Paracetamol
  Monitored dosage systems
  Disillusioned youth
  Code of Ethics
  SGM
  Disposal of medicines
  Separate register
  Onlooker
  The Journal

Future of pharmacy

Integrated health service required

From Mr J. A. Sobczuk, MRPharmS

My recent move from hospital to community pharmacy has reinforced a view I have held for many years: how can one branch of the health service operate by direct management and the other branch with self-employed contractors? The NHS plan calls for primary care centres with integrated services, so surely now is the time to change to directly employed National Health Service staff in primary care for general practice, pharmacy, nursing and optical and dental care.

This would have many advantages for pharmacy as well as other health care staff. It would allow changes from the rationalised distribution of pharmacies to the central purchasing and supply of medicines, which could radically alter the way drugs are bought and paid for. Pharmacists would be allowed to pursue their clinical and professional goals, would have direct access to prescribers and the other primary care health professionals, would be freed from the problems of cash flow and profit making and would have time to develop their patient care in line with the clinical activities currently undertaken in hospital.

With a single service, manpower planning can be conducted away from the self interests of the professional groups and can be planned with service developments in mind. The public will certainly be unaware that manpower problems in the medical and pharmaceutical professions are probably self inflicted by the urge to ensure unemployment on the continental model does not occur in the UK.

This is how the NHS should have been established: as a National (integrated) Health Service, not as a fragmented service at the mercy of groups following their own goals.

I look forward to the defence of the current system by those who prefer to work long hours, without holidays and then complain about the falling renumeration. However a structured service with co-ordinated management will appeal to those who have an urge to move away from profit and forward to a full clinical patient-oriented service.

Jan Sobczuk
Newport, Shropshire

Previous Topic (The Profession)
Next Topic (Coronary heart disease)
Send your letter to The Editor