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The profession
A real sense of déjà vu
From Mr K. J. Knight, FRPharmS
As I read the penultimate paragraph of Alan Nathan’s “Are
we seeing the death of pharmacy?” (PJ, 19 June, p764),
I felt a real sense of déjà vu.
Over 10 years ago I set out, with background and reasons for my forecast,
the future of community pharmacy if it did not adopt computer screening.
My article “A decade is all we have felt ...” was published
in Chemist & Druggist (2 February 1994, p248).
The concluding paragraph read: “And community pharmacy will cease
to exist. But the Society would still be in existence. It would be the
voluntary professional home of pharmaceutical graduates and those of
related disciplines, and keep the register of licensed sellers of human
and veterinary medicines.” (The Society will begin to keep the
register of pharmacy technicians in 2007.)
The only real difference between Alan Nathan’s views and mine is
that he thinks it could happen but hopes it will not; I, sadly, am certain
that it will.
K.J. Knight
Crewkerne, Somerset
Long live the pharmacy technician!
From Ms T. O. O. Banjo, MRPharmS
How I wish I entered the pharmacy profession as a technician. Pharmacy
technicians have come a long way and although I am not a technician I
admire their focus, their drive and their unity. They are a group of
professionals armed simply with BTEC or NVQ level 3 qualifications, whom
have moved forward in leaps and bounds — but where are pharmacists?
Still trudging behind technicians in my opinion.
We are focused but I believe we are lacking in unity and drive, and although
most of us have a master’s degree or more, professionally we are
no better off than technicians. Take for instance a C or D grade pharmacist
with 10 years’ experience — they would have been better off
rising through the ranks to MTO 5 with less educational strain. Let us
face it, technicians can do everything we do, including medicines management.
I hope they can train as supplementary prescribers too, given the right
training they would be good at it.
Technicians are willing to take responsibility and they never sell themselves
short, but pharmacists are the exact opposite. If pharmacists are to
survive we need to borrow a leaf or two from the technicians. They are
heads above technicians in other professions.
My daughter wants to be a pharmacist, but I would rather she trained
as a technician — they are forward thinkers who know what they
want and get what they want and deserve to — because they are united.
Long live the pharmacy technician!
T. O. O. Banjo
Enfield, Middlesex
A symptom of general apathy?
From Mr D.W.Higgins, FRPharmS
On 1 April 1903 a meeting of chemists resident in the Thames Valley
district was convened by the London Chemist’s Association to discuss,
among other things, the desirability of forming a local organisation.
A committee meeting on 21 April held in Kingston discussed rules of the
association, which included the name “Thames Valley District Chemists
Association” the objects for which the association is established,
namely, the consideration and discussion of all matters affecting the
interests of chemists, and the promotion of friendly and social intercourse
amongst chemists. The association was to consist of members, registered
chemists, and such others as may be elected by the members. The annual
subscription was five shillings (the same figure when I became a member
of the branch in 1966). In addition to rules concerning governance of
the branch it was also decided that the motto connected with the association
should be Nihil sine unitate.
One hundred years on, the current committee of the Thames Valley Pharmacists
Association decided that this milestone in the history of the association
was worth celebrating. (After all, the Diamond Jubilee celebration dinner
attracted more than 360 members and guests). The idea to celebrate with
a formal dinner was put to the membership at a couple of branch meetings
and, by show of hands, appeared to meet with general approval. A considerable
amount of time and effort was put into the project by the members of
the committee in finding a suitable and affordable venue; not least by
David Thomas, who managed to secure sponsorship from Moss Chemists and
SSL, which had the effect of halving the cost to the individual guests.
When it became apparent that the function might have to be cancelled
due to lack of support our hardworking secretary, together with her husband
and Mr Thomas, spent a weekend compiling and putting into envelopes further
flyers to send to every member.
What is depressing is that after all the effort, apart from committee
members, only one other member of the branch wished to attend. Is the
general apathy a symptom of the malaise affecting our profession due
to the turmoil caused by the civil service’s desire to control
all aspects of our lives, or is it that we just do not like socialising
with other members of our profession?
Perhaps the motto chosen by our Victorian forebears was too negative.
Latin scholars will correct me but should it have been Omnia cum
unitate?
D. W. Higgins
Surbiton,
Surrey
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