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Letters to the Editor
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Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE)
Penalty charges
From Mr S. S. Kalsi, MRPharmS
I have been an avid follower of continuing professional development
through attending at least one Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education
workshop every cycle. One is obliged to book a workshop up to three months
ahead of the event.
I was approached by a GP cluster lead to talk to GPs about pharmacy’s
role in practice-based commissioning. The meeting clashed with a CPPE
workshop but, thinking the opportunity unique and in the present uncertain
climate in pharmacy surrounding this subject, I telephoned an apology
at the first instant — the next morning — to CPPE. I was
told to write, which I did.
I heard nothing for a fortnight or more and then received a bill for
a £50 penalty for absence. I wrote back explaining the special
circumstances as I thought, only to be told that I had chosen to attend
another meeting and the penalty stood.
This lack of flexibility around a booking made three months before and
the importance to pharmacy of the presented opportunity should merit
an annulment of the charge.
Surinder Singh Kalsi
Barking, Essex
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CHRISTOPHER CUTTS, director, Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education,
responds:
Mr Kalsi had reserved a place some three months before the
workshop date. This booking demonstrated acceptance of the cancellation
policy.
He then decided to attend a local meeting at short notice, rather
than fulfil his obligation to attend the CPPE workshop. A charge of £50
has therefore been raised.
The cancellation policy for CPPE has been printed in the past two
editions of our brochure and is available on line at www.cppe.man.ac.uk.
Where
a participant
cancels 10 or more days before a workshop, no charge is levied. Where a participant
cancels fewer than 10 days, but two or more days before the workshop, a charge
of £25 is levied. If under two days’ or no notice is given, a charge
of £50 is levied.
The CPPE is funded entirely by the Department of Health and we take seriously
our responsibilities for managing public funding. Our learning resources
are provided at no cost to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Workshops
additionally
provide refreshments for participants. Where places are cancelled at short
notice, we are not able to reduce the prices paid to the venue, nor are we
able to claim
a refund from the postal services for materials that have been sent out.
We therefore pass these charges on to the participant.
Where participants provide a reason for their cancellation or non-attendance,
the CPPE reviews these and makes a decision based on the information given
on whether to waive the fee.
In this situation, in his communications to CPPE, Mr Kalsi implied that he
had decided that his presence at the GPs’ meeting was of greater personal
significance than the CPPE workshop. The charge stands. |
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal