The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7231 p40
11 January 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Independent Pharmacists' Association to be launched in Britain in the spring

The inaugural meeting of a new Independent Pharmacists' Association is to be held on 6 April. Membership of the association is expected to cost £150 a year.

The association is being set up by Graham Southall-Edwards, a pharmacist and barrister who already has commitments from 50 pharmacists to join and expects to see up to 200 at the launch meeting. The meeting is likely to be held in Andover, Hampshire, or in Coventry.

Mr Southall-Edwards said: "Given the recent news of a flood of European Union and other pharmacists being brought into the United Kingdom by Lloydspharmacy and the immediate reported effects on locum situations and rates, the balance of power has swung further into the hands of the large corporate employers. There will inevitably be a knock-on effect on employment opportunities and salaries too."

He adds that £150 — about one day's pay — is not too much to pay for such an association when compared with the subscription rates for membership of other professional associations.

Mr Southall-Edwards can be contacted by e-mail (barrister@netway.at) for further information.