The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7162 p261-263
25 August 2001

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Community pharmacy (3 letters)

Responsibilities added insidiously

From Mr J. R. Wood, MRPharmS

The general state of community pharmacy, as depicted by Robert Gartside (PJ, 18 August), is certainly applicable to the situation I was in until recently. Having been employed by the same company for 14 years and in the same pharmacy since 1992, I was finding the job increasingly onerous. Being presented with the chance of early retirement, and secure in the knowledge that my reduced income could be supplemented by locum work if necessary, I resigned my long-standing post at the age of 55.

The increase in responsibilities, which were considered essential, were added insidiously, so that the consequences were difficult to relate to the real cause. Nobody is eager to admit that a job they have been doing for years is growing beyond their ability to cope. It should have been discussed with field management, of course, but then what could they have done? No one else seemed to be complaining, so why was it just me that was finding things so tough? Was I just too old?

I can now see that there was just too much to do, but it was not a concept I could accept at the time. I was totally blinkered, walking the same path I had trodden for the past nine years. Mr Gartside’s analysis of the general situation identifies my recent position quite accurately.

It is relevant to state that I worked a 42-hour week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8.30am to 7pm), dispensed between 6,000 and 8,000 items per month, served 100 nursing home beds each week and delivered oxygen to the 30-odd patients with sets, who actually used them. Not an exceptional situation in any way.

J. R. Wood
Tamworth, Staffordshire

Locum shortages explained?

From Mr B. Harrop, MRPharmS

I would be grateful if Robert Gartside (PJ, 18 August) could point me in the direction of a company willing to pay pharmacists a rate similar to that for a locum general practitioner. A locum pharmacist typically charges £18 an hour and a sessional GP £50 for the first hour, and £33.50 thereafter. Two years ago the rates recommended by the British Medical Association were between £234 and £267 a day. Could there indeed be a simple explanation for the shortage of locum pharmacists?

Brian Harrop
Blackpool, Lancashire

Disgraceful rates for locum pharmacists

From Mr A. B. Patel, MRPharmS

I believe that rates of pay for locum pharmacists are disgraceful and are not competitive with those for other health care professionals. It is about time that there was a substantial rise. Locum pharmacists are often required to work under tremendous pressure, often in an unfamiliar environment. They also provide free advice to patients throughout the working day.

When locums are called out on an emergency job, there should be a minimum premium rate. Often a pharmacist may be expected to arrive at a pharmacy within a certain time. Agencies and individuals are always reluctant to increase the rate of pay in emergency situations, simply because of the restricted locum rates.

A lot of pharmacies are now open late and the hours locums are expected to work are often “unsocial”. No consideration is given to this either.

I do not see any reason for the locum rates for dentists and opticians to be significantly greater than that for pharmacists.

Ajay Patel
Croydon, Surrey

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