The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7351 p646
28 May 2005

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· Prescribing
· Dispensing doctors
· Information systems
· Adverse event reporting (2)
· Pharmacy graduates
· New contract
· Pharmacy technicians
· Community pharmacy
· Birdsgrove House (2)
· Reciprocal registration

Letters to the Editor

New contract

New pharmacy contract and advanced services— where are locums left?

From Mr P. S. Summerfield, MRPharmS

I read with interest the Broad spectrum article that was written by a locum pharmacist regarding the new contract and the place that locums have within it (PJ, 21 May, p610). In my own experience, it is extremely frustrating that I am trained to offer enhanced/ advanced services within one primary care trust but I am unable to apply that training in neighbouring PCTs. Instead, I have to undergo retraining and spend further time and effort tracing whom I need to speak to within a PCT so that I may access this training, not to mention the cost. In the meantime patients suffer, as I have to direct them to another pharmacy that can help them, often a number of miles away.

I consider myself lucky that I only work as a locum in four PCTs. From speaking to a number of colleagues, they often provide locum cover in over 15 PCTs during the course of a month. What benefit will clients gain from being turned away from a pharmacy offering emergency hormonal contraception under a patient group direction or nicotine replacement therapy if a locum on duty is only trained to provide that service in one PCT? Will the Royal Pharmaceutical Society please make representations to the relevant bodies so that pharmacists can register centrally to access universal training and allow the locum workforce to provide advanced/ enhanced services across all PCTs.

Paul Summerfield
Powick, Worcestershire

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