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The register
A dispensing register is not the answer
From Ms E. S. Wakeling, MRPharmS
The debate on what to call ourselves if we participate in continuing
professional development rumbles on. I was disappointed to read P.
I. Herman’s suggestion of a dispensing register for those allowed
to practise (PJ, November 8, p644). Those not on this register
would not be allowed to dispense medicinal products, for example, those
who
are retired or work in industry or academia.
The public are so often presented with the image of pharmacists as tablet-counters
or photograph developers, that our expertise and ability to advise patients
and other health care professionals on medicines usage is sidelined and
frequently dismissed. How are we going to improve how the public and
other health care professionals think of pharmacists if we label ourselves
dispensers? I think dispensers, too, might be puzzled by this suggestion.
In order to recommend appropriate therapies (to doctors, nurses, other
health care workers or the public), we must ensure we have adequate knowledge
to do so, and surely this is the aim of CPD and maintaining a separate
register for those fulfilling the requirements of CPD. Pharmacists regularly
advise on drug use, drug safety, drug appropriateness and health promotion.
We also educate the public, other health care professionals, and our
future pharmacists on a wide range of medicines-related issues.
As I understand it, the notion of introducing mandatory CPD is intended
to ensure that pharmacists have adequate up-to-date knowledge to fulfil
all their professional roles specific to their job. If we exclude many
hospital pharmacists, primary care trust pharmacists, teaching pharmacists
and others in specialist advisory but non-dispensing professional roles
from the “practising” or “active” register, then
are we saying that pharmacists should not be performing these roles?
These are, after all, the very roles many of us have advocated we undertake
in order that the profession adapts to meet the changing needs of health
care provision (and also to provide greater job satisfaction for pharmacists,
helping to attract and retain the workforce).
Dispensing accurately and safely requires an appropriate level of clinical
skill, which mandatory CPD is intended to ensure, but it is not the only
role of the modern pharmacist. If we call practising pharmacists “dispensing
pharmacists”, which I believe may inevitably become abbreviated
to “dispensers”, we are not only taking many steps backwards
in the development of our profession, but showing the public and other
health professionals that this is the only role we wish to fulfil and
perhaps the only role of which we are capable.
Eleanor Wakeling
Glusburn, North Yorkshire |
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