The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7234 p154
1 February 2003

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Letters to the Editor

Community pharmacy

Dangerous conditions of employment

From Mr J. M. Brunt, MRPharmS

The dissatisfaction expressed by members relating to the current rates of pay for locums is one that I regularly read about in The Journal yet the answer to the problem is relatively simple.

Nobody has to work for the likes of Moss, Lloyds or the supermarket companies if they believe the conditions of employment are unattractive. Frankly, I see the long hours, high prescription volumes, lack of adequate refreshment breaks and inadequate levels of supporting staff that these companies appear to impose as highly dangerous in a job where accuracy should be of paramount importance. This is something that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's inspectors should be clamping down on.

If locums demanded £30 an hour, which is what my plumber charges, and rejected their derisory £17 by refusing to work for them, then things would rapidly change.

Mike Brunt
Thetford, Norfolk

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