Partners in practice
Rural GPs and community pharmacists have — traditionally — not always seen eye to eye. Turf wars between dispensing practices and local pharmacies have on occasion ended in tears. However, a development in Devon could help change the rural landscape and be the beginning of the end of ancient animosities between the two professions. Moreover, it could provide a model that has implications for practices in suburban and inner-city areas where pharmacies are thin on the ground and GPs find it difficult to attract professionals to provide pharmaceutical care.
The Chulmleigh practice in Devon has come up with a novel solution to
its difficulty in providing pharmacy services for the village since the
closure of the local pharmacy following a retirement over five years
ago. After a serendipitous exchange between one of the GPs and the local
pharmaceutical adviser, the practice invited the adviser to become a
fully fledged and equal partner (p700).
This solution has been made practicable, and even desirable, by the new
general medical services contract, which, as The Journal has discussed
on previous occasions, offers many opportunities for pharmacists because
of its emphasis on chronic disease management and associated medicines
management issues. Coupled with the new pharmacy contract and related
developments, having a pharmacist as an integral part of the primary
care team — rather than just someone who appears on a sessional
basis — makes financial sense for the practice. For the pharmacist
there are risks but, at the moment, they are outweighed by the professional
benefits of the contribution that can be made to the range and quality
of services on offer, as well as by the recognition of the value and
status that the partnership brings personally.
Pharmacists in other parts of Britain who also recognise the contribution
they could make should be encouraged to boldly go to their local practice
and outline the advantages to the partnership of having a pharmacist
in their fold.
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Council in the spotlight
Next week, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Council meets for the
first time since the election. The first afternoon of business is to
be largely devoted to discussion
of the six motions being put forward
by a Save Our Society representative (p695). Feelings are expected to
run high and points of view are likely to be
expressed strongly.
Let us hope that members of Council — both new and old — remember
that arguments are better made when they are devoid of emotion. Those with an
interest in pharmacy’s future will be paying close attention, so let us
hope, too, that the Council’s proceedings are not marred by ill-considered
comment. Let the day’s decisions be remembered for the quality of the debate
as much as the outcome.
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