Protecting the vulnerable
Pharmacists are the eyes and ears of their local communities. They have an unrivalled view of the health and well-being of people who enter their premises. This brings some responsibility because they may notice how children and vulnerable adults are treated by parents and carers.
In this week’s Journal the centre pages are devoted to guidance
(PDF 80K) prepared by the Society to help pharmacists act fairly when they suspect
the
abuse or
neglect of a child or of an adult who is vulnerable to abuse because of age,
illness, disability or mental health problems. When pharmacists have such suspicions
it is important that whatever steps they take, first and foremost they must act
to protect the child or adult who may have suffered abuse or appears to be at
risk of abuse. They also have to be aware that if their suspicions are correct,
these steps may end in a criminal prosecution, so it is important that they understand
the implications of their actions and keep good records.
With this background, and the need to ensure that mistakes are not inadvertently
made, it is important that pharmacists are confident they are doing the best
thing and that they do not decide to ignore the evidence before them and take
no action. This is human nature and the easier route to take, even though it
could lead to the child or adult suffering further abuse or neglect.
The Society’s guidance should give pharmacists confidence to act and ensure
that, if they follow the recommended procedures, they will have the knowledge
that may save an individual from further damage.
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Promoting pharmacists’ new role
A survey by Which? has found that the public do not understand pharmacists’ new role in primary care. This is perhaps not too surprising at a time when new community pharmacy services are still in development. As has already
been pointed out (p157), the new pharmacy contracts must first be promoted
to pharmacists and then to other health care professionals before the
additional services that become available can be publicised to their
potential users.
However, the profession needs to be ready for an assault on the public
consciousness when the time is ripe. Perhaps the five most relevant organisations — the
Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the National Pharmacy Association, the
Company Chemists Association, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating
Committee and the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council — should
pool their public relations expertise and plan an intensive campaign
to ensure that the years of effort leading to the development of the
new pharmacy contracts do not go to waste.
In the meantime, they can take pleasure in the Which? finding that pharmacists
retain the public’s trust, even if people are unclear about the
services available from them.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal