The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7265 p298-299
6 September 2003

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Letters to the Editor

CPD

Why should we be forced off the register?

From Mr R. G. Wicks, MRPharmS

John Fowler (PJ, 23 August, p236) is I believe correct in his assumption (PDF 60K) that many academic and industrial members could leave the Register if continuing professional development is introduced as planned; I shall be one of those forced off.

I joined the Register in 1955 having completed my statutory year after graduation working in industry. I have spent all my working life in industry and have therefore never handled a doctor’s prescription or advised a patient in a pharmacy. CPD for many working in industry is difficult because of the intense pressure under which executives in industry operate. Although I completed my DBA course in the year before I joined the Register, attempts at further education proved almost impossible. An attempt at an Open University course was frustrated when I was sent to India for two months and, on my return, found that I had missed the television and radio programmes associated with the course. It soon became apparent that keeping up to date with the products of my own company was all I could manage, apart from a scan through the PJ on a Friday night.

I have never been tempted to do locum work because I have always recognised that, in spite of being a pharmacist, I do not possess the skills now required for community or hospital pharmacy. Until I retired 12 years ago my company ensured that I retained the necessary skills required by a pharmacist working for them in international markets. I am confident all other companies do the same and that things are similar in the academic field. Why should we be forced off the Register just because we do not meet the day-to-day requirements for community or hospital pharmacy?

Ronald Wicks
Cusop, Herefordshire

How can I comply?

From Mr D. A. Canniford, MRPharmS

I felt sad when I read the letter from Philip Nutton (PJ, 2 August, p148). I started work in a pharmacy over 60 years ago and felt privileged when my apprentice master told me that I could read his copy of the PJ every week — he took me to an attic room in his flat above the pharmacy and showed me a pile of unopened PJs “in their nice brown folders” about three feet tall. I vowed that that would not be me and I have opened and read my PJ every week since.

Now that I have retired it keeps me up to date with the pharmacy world and I would be loath to have to resign and give up my weekly copy. On the other hand I could not honestly promise that I would never give any advice in the future to one of my friends in need.

Therefore can anyone tell me how I can comply with continuing professional development requirements now that I no longer work, and live in a rural district?

Dennis Canniford
County Carlow, Ireland

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