The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7356 p18
2 July 2005

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· Annual General Meeting
· Registration
· Pharmacology
· Controlled drugs
· Technicians
· Birdsgrove House
· Registration examination
· Revalidation
· Supermarket pharmacy
· Dispensing
· New pharmacy contract
· PCTs
· The Society

Letters to the Editor

PCTs

New inspections causing concern

From Mr Phil Reeder, MRPharmS

We have seen published (PJ, 11 June, p718) the changes arising from the Government’s response to the fourth report of the Shipman Inquiry, with a range of actions, most of which seem sensible and quite easy to implement in community pharmacy. The introduction of electronic records for Controlled Drugs will be very welcome.

The section dealing with “Inspection of pharmacies” however, does cause me some concern. It seems that inspection of the pharmacy might be carried out, not only by Royal Pharmaceutical Society inspectors and police, but also by members of the primary care trust. Do we need three different inspecting bodies? I think not.

I would suggest that PCTs should stick to planning and organising services and where appropriate contract pharmacies to carry them out within the normal constraints of legally binding contracts.

I strongly believe that any inspecting and regulatory role should be left to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society which should liaise with the police when necessary.
If the Government wants to introduce a separate inspecting body for Controlled Drugs then so be it, but please keep the PCTs out of it.

Phil Reeder
Welbourn, Lincolnshire

Experiencing problems

From Mr C. Morris, MRPharmS

I am inspired to write in response to a phone call I just received from a pharmacist, who read my letter (PJ, 7 May, p544) about a “run-in” I had with my local primary care trust. My letter raised the question of whether a non-elected group should be able to dictate a professional’s right to practise. What I experienced, however, is nothing compared to what she is experiencing and it almost makes the PCT representative I dealt with seem rational.

It seems that there might be a lack of real pharmaceutical support for those with a problem with PCTs. It also seems that all medical professional groups go out of their way to show a transparency in their dealings, but the bodies that now have the say on competency are about as transparent as mud.

This pharmacist also knows of another colleague experiencing problems, so the question is how many of us are there? I believe that we need to know how many people out there are dealing with apparently dictatorial PCTs.
If you have had any problems with PCTs please contact me via e-mail at cmorrislocum@hotmail.com.

Christopher Morris
Newquay, Cornwall

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