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Letters to the Editor
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Technicians
Time to realise full potential
From Mrs J. Gibbs
I read (with much exasperation) the letter from Andrew
Pothecary “Technicians
will leave pharmacists trapped in the dispensary” (PJ, 9 April, p421).
Is it not time to lay down the caveman club and look forward to the 21st
century?
I am a qualified medicines management pharmacy technician and work in an
NHS hospital providing a service to four busy wards. I have experience
in taking medication histories, patient counselling, top-up and supply
of medication, and checking patients’ own drugs. I also organise
the discharge of patients receiving monitored dosage systems. When I can
do all this, why would anyone want to stick me in a dispensary all day?
The truth of the matter is technicians are efficient. We are hardworking
individuals who are keen to perform some of the tasks of a pharmacist,
yet readily accept the lower wage without grumble or complaint. If community
pharmacists were to pay technicians a decent living wage, perhaps more
of them would stay? Can I suggest Mr Pothecary stops feeling so insecure
about technicians “taking over” and starts realising our full
potential as health care professionals.
J. Gibbs
Medicines Management Technician
Bristol |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal