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Letters to the Editor
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British Pharmaceutical Conference
Our conference club saved
From Dr M. E. King, MRPharmS
Following my previous
letter (PJ, 9 October 2004, p513) berating the
Conference Organising Committee for their inability to organise a “drink
up” in a licensed premises, I would like to take the opportunity
to congratulate them for listening to the membership.
The “Conference club” at this year’s British Pharmaceutical
Conference was almost exactly what this doctor ordered: centrally located,
a late licence and advertised well. It became the meeting point for lots
of conference goers from all walks of pharmaceutical life and certainly
had a buzzing atmosphere, albeit a little cramped.
Participants were able to mingle and chat with academic luminaries, leaders
of the pharmaceutical industry, media, staff from the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society and a retired pharmacist llama farmer from Cornwall! A good time
was had by all.
Once again I thank the organisers for listening but remind them that
while, at the moment, the need for a “save our conference club” group
seems to have passed, I will be keeping a beady eye on them.
Martin King
Cardiff
Being forced out?
From Mr D. Wood, MRPharmS
I attended the British Pharmaceutical Conference for all three days and
funded myself. My wife accompanied me, so with fees and hotel expenses
the costs were over £1,000 (my wife is not a pharmacist and only
attended the social functions).
I am of the opinion that I was the only person present who was self-funded.
Of course, I could be slightly mistaken about this. Whether it was because
of this or other factors, I did not feel particularly welcome. It seemed
to me like a club. This is not a new experience for me either; after visiting
the conference in Cardiff five or six years ago, I vowed never to attend
a conference again because I felt excluded there. Few pharmacists who work
at the “coal face” seem to attend the BPC these days and I
find this sad. The talkers have taken over.
On a positive note I enjoyed many aspects of this year’s BPC. There
were some excellent presentations. On the opening morning David Weatherall
led an enlightening session on “The future of pharmaceutical science
and pharmaceutical care”. I particularly remember others on obesity,
colorectal cancer and the address by Dame Janet Smith, chairperson of the
Shipman enquiry.
Having spent most of my working life in community pharmacy, I was particularly
interested in the session on “Primary care: implementing the new
contracts”. As I sold my pharmacy when I was 60 and am now 67 years
of age, I was a bit surprised by this. Old habits die hard. Some parts
of the new contract I like but have reservations in some areas. I am still
on the Register, but have not practised for a while. I intend to do a little
locum work in the future. I enquired about the return to practise course
but was told that I was too old — the cut off point is 65 for free
funding. I agreed to fund myself. Apparently this is not allowed. Where
do I go from here?
The Government says that we will all have to work past 65 because they
have not funds for pensions. I still have lots of energy and I do work
to stay involved in pharmacy but find it hard to get people to co-operate
with this. Last May I stood as an independent candidate in the general
election in Barnsley, so am obviously interested in politics, but I would
rather do pharmacy.
Donald Wood
Barnsley,
South Yorkshire |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal