CPD
Need to establish a non-practising register
From Mrs H. Levy, MRPharmS
I would assume that there are hundreds of pharmacists who, like myself,
are not retired neither live nor work abroad and who work outside the
profession yet, perhaps for nostalgic reasons, maintain their registration.
I have been following the progress of continuing professional development
through the various stages and note with some degree of bemusement and
concern that what will happen to us, with regard to remaining on the register
without fulfilling the obligation of CPD, “is a question yet to be
addressed” (PJ, 5 October, p508).
I would be most upset if I were to be “forced” to relinquish
my hard-earned membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Might I
suggest that a “non-practising” register is established for
those members who sign the necessary declaration and pay the requisite
fee. I understand that there would need to be a process for those who
may want to switch between registers, possibly with a maximum length of
time that one can remain on the “non-practising” register before
it becomes impractical to transfer without significant retraining; but
I am sure that these matters can be resolved.
I would urge the Society to issue a statement in the near future as to
its intent so that this issue can be fully debated.
Helen Levy
Pinner, Middlesex
Older members dealt an insult
From Mr J. R. Martin, MRPharmS
In his article on continuing professional development (PJ, 5 October,
pp508–9), I believe Dr Wilson has dealt older members of our profession
an insult. The question posed regarding older members does not assume
“that older pharmacists are out of date”. My understanding of
the concerns raised regarding older members, who will leave the profession
rather than engage in CPD, does not involve any slight on their competence,
but rather the disproportionate load the requirements will place upon
them compared with the amount of professional work they do. Many, if not
most, of these people are already semi-retired; they do the occasional
day’s locum for pleasure and to cover real emergencies; maybe one
or two days every week or two.
It is perfectly understandable that they should be as up-to-date as any
other pharmacist and that this will have to be demonstrable. However,
it is also understandable that the extra work load with CPD may tip the
balance from the occasional day being pleasurable to do, towards the requirements
to stay on the register being more effort than the work itself.
I suspect that as well as weeding out a tiny number
of unprofessional, out-of-date pharmacists (of any age), the community
workforce will lose a large pool of competent, experienced, knowledgeable
and up-to-date older pharmacists who are already doing CPD but will find
that recording it is simply not worth the time and energy.
J. Martin
Wallingford, Oxfordshire
Training should be for all who sell medicines
From Mrs D. Drury, MRPharmS
I believe that training should be made available to all those who sell
medicines, not just pharmacists. I have therefore decided to send my continuing
professional development video to the chief pharmacist’s office.
I trust the generosity of other pharmacists to do the same so that redistribution
via our chief pharmacist can be made. Training would then be mandatory
at garages, sweet shops and cafés, thus ensuring that Marshall
Davies will have complete confidence in purchasing his cimetidine, ibuprofen
and hydrocortisone from his local car boot sale.
Dorothy Drury
Bridlington, North Humberside
|
