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The Society
Letters to the Editor
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CPD
Pensioners below the poverty line
From Mr A. R. Korsner, MRPharmS
I endorse what Andy Pothecary writes in his letter (PJ, 9 August, p175).
I wonder also whether the powers-that-be have considered the extreme
hardship that could potentially befall pharmacists reaching retirement
age in the near future. In recent conversations with such pharmacists,
it appears that many have factored into their retirement plans their
ability to do the odd locum to supplement their pensions.
Unlike doctors and other health care professionals, more than 30 years
of working in the National Health Service has gained pharmacists nothing
in terms of an NHS pension. Most (especially employee pharmacists without
the sale of a business as a financial cushion), through no fault of their
own, will now face the possibility of falling into a poverty trap with
this movement of the goal posts.
I for one do not relish seeing my professional colleagues in this position.
Having worked a lifetime as unsung, unrecognised heroes of the NHS, we
now face the ignominy of retirement on a shoestring, tending our daffodils,
while our doctor friends whistle around the world spending their superannuation.
There has to be a way of registering semi-retired pharmacists so that
they can work and carry out certain tasks of a non-clinical nature without
the necessity to fulfil the full continuing professional development
requirements. With all due respect to the excellent academic achievements
of recently qualified pharmacists, there is nothing that can be taught
at university that can supplement the experience and confidence of a
lifetime of work.
Is our Society prepared to sit back and witness the possibility of ex-pharmacists
moving, in desperation, to “health food stores”, advising
and giving credibility to these ungoverned organisations?
If the Society is hell bent on this level of compulsory CPD then it needs
to give much more thought to the needs of those pharmacists for whom
the income from a little work is essential to keep both body and mind
together.
It must also boost up and publicise the Benevolent Fund to take into
account the considerable extra numbers who may, sadly, need to avail
themselves of it.
There is currently great, unspoken, fear and uncertainty at grass roots.
Adrian Korsner
London N20
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