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· Professional regulation
· Code of Ethics (2)
· The profession (4)
· Community pharmacy (2)
· Multiples
· Accuracy checking
· CPPE (3)
· Medicines use review
· Emergency supplies (2)
· Controlled Drugs
· NHS
· Nutrition
· Fellowship
· The Council
· Retention fees
· Section 60 Order
Letters to the Editor
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Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE)
A dilemma that may be faced by many contractors
From Mr K. K. Patel, MRPharmS
After reading Surinder
Singh Kalsi’s letter regarding cancellation
charges from the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (PJ, 15 July,
p74), I sympathise greatly with his dilemma. As community pharmacists
and contractors, it is always difficult to ensure we meet everyone’s
needs fully and there will always be circumstances where this will be
impossible.
I understand that some boundaries have to be made, because if there were
no charge for cancellation, then it would be unfair on the CPPE, which
would have spent a lot of time, money and effort in making each workshop
as successful as they have been so far. However, there can be exceptions,
and Mr Kalsi’s case is an example. Incidents such as the one faced
by Mr Kalsi are likely to be faced by many contractors like myself, and
these need to be taken into careful consideration.
Kaushik Karsan Patel
Ilford, Essex
CPPE should reconsider its cancellation fee
From Mr A. D. Asher, FRPharmS
I was disappointed to read Surinder
Singh Kalsi’s letter and more
so to read the reply from Christopher Cutts, of the Centre for Pharmacy
Postgraduate Education (PJ, 15 July, p74). Knowing Mr Kalsi, I am certain
that he did not agree at such short notice to cancel his CPPE workshop
booking for “greater personal significance” but rather to
be able to represent community pharmacy to local GPs in a presentation
about pharmacy’s role in practice-based commissioning (PBC).
I believe that the CPPE would better serve the interests of pharmacy
postgraduate education as well as community pharmacy’s future in
primary care, since PBC and other aspects of pharmacy in the new age
of the NHS contract are assuming such importance, if it reconsiders its
decision to impose the cancellation fee in this instance.
Allan Asher
London
Unacceptable attitude
From Mr R. A. Rutter, MRPharmS
I was disappointed to read the reply from Christopher Cutts, of the
Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education, to the letter from Surinder
Singh Kalsi (PJ, July 15, p74).
I, too, have apparently fallen foul of the new policy.
For Dr Cutts to say that the GPs’ meeting was of greater personal
significance to Mr Kalsi than the CPPE meeting is both disingenuous and
insulting. In my case I was asked at short notice by my local member
of Parliament and ward councillors to attend a health-related public
meeting on the same evening as a previously booked CPPE course. I gave
four days’ notice but have been “fined” £25.
Community pharmacy is at a time of many significant changes and it is
essential that, as a profession, we develop relationships with other
members of the health and wider communities.
When booking courses we are always asked to give a contact telephone
number and an e-mail address. Should it then become necessary to cancel,
we are told that the place can be offered to other pharmacists on the
waiting list. This information now seems irrelevant. I wonder whether
there are any reasons for cancellation that will be accepted?
What happens if you are in a traffic accident on the way to the course
or your car breaks down? What happens if you are ill? Do you choose to
stay away or infect all the other attendees if you have a heavy cold?
Will you then need a doctor’s sick note to avoid a penalty charge?
I had always assumed that the penalty charges were being brought in to
deter “serial offenders”. This is obviously not the case.
It remains to be seen whether potential financial penalties will eventually
result in a decline in course bookings or an increase in seldom-claimed
travel expenses to compensate for possible future charges. Joining in
after-work training events needs every encouragement. We attend in our
own time and do not have access to the generous allowances available
to GPs.
I think the current attitude of the CPPE is unacceptable.
Richard Rutter
Leeds
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal