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The Journal
“Did you hear the one about ... ?”
From Mr D. A. Ellerby, MRPharmS
I write with reference to the letter from Maurice
Waldmann (PJ, 3 July,
p22) concerning the solemnity of The Pharmaceutical Journal.
Over almost 30 years of Journal reading I have conditioned myself to hunt
down and enjoy the hidden tidbits of humour and “sexiness”.
It has been difficult, but I have steeled myself to the task and more often
than not I can find some element of arrant pomposity, outright arrogance
or utter somnolence that makes me smile and occasionally laugh.
For me, the sexy, humorous part of the PJ lies in the letters and “Onlooker”.
The former make me wonder why we take ourselves so seriously — maybe
because no one else does. The latter astounds me at how interested I am
in the contents of the column — maybe I need to get out more, as
does the profession.
It is not just the PJ; it is the image of the whole profession. We are
not a sexy profession. We are not an amusing and witty profession. We are
not even an interesting profession. These three preceding comments are
not mine, but those of observers from other medical professions (sample
size n=2) who seem to have the ability to bring humour and an appropriate
attractiveness (sexiness?) into the professional expression of their vocation.
Doctors and nurses have engaged with the world through the entertainment
industry for years and consequently have a relationship with the public
beyond and deeper than the purely professional. I have never seen a portrayal
of a pharmacist in similar terms as for either of those professions.
Apparently I have a sense of humour since, on one or two occasions I have
been asked “why are you a pharmacist if you’re such a funny
bloke?”. Sadly there is no stimulating or entertaining response to
that question that would make the questioner want to embrace a similar
career.
Neither of my daughters has pursued a career in pharmacy, and my wife is
about to come off the register. Thankfully, I love my current job as a
practice-based pharmacist, which allows me to be actively involved in all
aspects of practice life, not just matters pharmaceutical. I am not regarded
as sexy by my co-workers, but I have managed to impart a degree of humour
to the application of my profession in the practice setting.
Maybe the PJ should have a “tabloid” pull-out section, a kind
of comic strip, Mickey Mouse, lift-up-flap, knockabout resource which we
could enjoy and then leave lying around in community pharmacies, practice
tea rooms, hospital canteens and assorted waiting rooms so that all and
sundry could see we do have a sense of humour. Heaven knows we joke about
ourselves often enough pre and post meetings. We need to “out” the
jokes! But let us not pursue the “sexy” agenda. I do not want
to see what might arise as “Mr April” or the “Page 2
pharmacist”.
Perhaps the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in conjunction with the pharmaceutical
industry could sponsor a television “sitcom” about life in
and around a community pharmacy. I could supply many anecdotes from my
own experiences as could many others. How about a monthly feature of “Spot
the spoof article” — although the danger here would be that
too many of us would take it seriously. Did you hear the one about the
community pharmacist, the midwife and the juggler?
David Ellerby
Elgin,
Moray |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal