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Letters to the Editor
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Pharmacy practice
Work breaks and adequate numbers of support staff required
From Mr A. J. Jukes, MRPharmS
I read with interest the letter from Paul
Summerfield (PJ, 13 August,
p194). I work in both community and hospital sectors and am currently
given adequate breaks. However this has not always been the case. Mr
Summerfield raises questions about the duration of breaks. Each one should
be a total mental and physical break in line with the working time directive
but currently this does not always happen.
I believe that, in order to safeguard the public and patients against
the risk of medication errors, all staff should receive a defined period
that is devoid of work responsibility. I remember once working in a hospital
where trays of work would be brought into the tea room. This is not a
break. Working any grade of staff beyond reasonable limits will increase
the risk of mistakes.
In response to Mr Summerfield, I believe 10 minutes may be too short
a duration for a break and would suggest 15 minutes for a short break
and up to an hour for lunch. However, in certain circumstances, such
as with locums, shorter hours may be decided upon — or should this
be subject to legislation from a risk management point of view?
I noticed that in a recent publication from the Pharmacists’ Defence
Association the concept of “taking a break but required to stay
on premises” was highlighted. I am glad this matter is being addressed
and I hope there will be clear guidance or legislation to safeguard safe
working practice.
Mr Summerfield’s letter flags an important issue that needs further
debate. In order to provide effective and safe pharmacy services there
needs to be sufficient work breaks that are in line with the working
time directive and a sufficiently trained quota of support staff.
Andrew Jukes
Brighton
Work breaks should be mandatory for pharmacists
From Mrs C. G. Kellett, MRPharmS
Until about 20 years ago it was normal practice for all pharmacy staff,
including the pharmacist, to take a 15-minute break in the mid-morning
and mid-afternoon and a one-hour break at lunchtime in a part of the premises
away from the dispensary.
Anyone presenting a prescription or requesting a pharmacy medicine was
politely told to call back later and, most of the time, this was not a
problem. Unfortunately, since then times have changed and many people seem
unwilling to wait even 30 seconds to be served.
Nowadays most employers expect their pharmacists to work throughout the
day without a break, although their counter and dispensing staff do get
breaks. GPs, dentists and opticians all take lunch breaks, as do bank managers
and solicitors; it seems that pharmacists are the only professional on
the high street who does not.
Since the limitation of contract was introduced in 1987, the number of
pharmacies has changed little, relative to the massive increase, year by
year, of the number of items dispensed. This means that although many more
dispensary staff are now employed, the pharmacist has far more work to
do, including more dispensing to oversee and advice to give. This ever
increasing workload means that we need work breaks far more than we ever
did before.
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association in its publication “Dealing
with and overcoming problems in contracts of employment” (PDF 720K)
refers to work breaks and alludes to the road haulage industry and its
mandatory
use of tachygraphs. “Breaks for pharmacists are at least as essential
as breaks for lorry drivers,” it says. Surely, therefore, it is time
that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society pushed for mandatory work breaks
for pharmacists.
Celia Kellett
Worcester |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal