The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7412 p160
5 August 2006

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· The profession (6)
· Safety
· Code of Ethics
· Homoeopathy

Letters to the Editor

Code of Ethics

Society needs to address staffing issues through Code of Ethics

From Mr P. J. Walker, MRPharmS

Stan Wheatley makes some valid points in his letter (PJ, 22 July, p101). My understanding is that this first draft structure of the Code of Ethics is to guide the individual pharmacist and that a more comprehensive guide, providing key responsibilities for those pharmacists with management responsibilities, eg, pharmacy superintendents, will follow. It is this document that all employed pharmacists will be particularly concerned about. It is imperative that, through this document, pharmacy superintendents’ responsibilities are made clear and not open to local interpretation. The pharmacy superintendents’ role needs to be given greater power to influence corporate decisions than at present. Staffing levels must be defined and ring-fenced and, once agreed, the pharmacy owners need to show greater transparency by publishing staffing levels for each pharmacy. This simple arrangement will allow pharmacists greater power to question their line manager when the staffing resource falls below the agreed level, which in extreme cases, could prevent the opening of the pharmacy.

It is the interpretation of corporate guidance by local line management that causes the greatest problems such as compensation for working through breaks, moving the goalposts for Sunday and bank holiday payments, and expecting pharmacists to work beyond the time allowed by the Working Time Directive. All pharmacists can deal with the odd emergency when a member of staff does not turn up, but it is the relentless shortfall of pharmacist and support staff that causes the greatest stress and concern, and must be addressed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society through the Code of Ethics. For far too long the Society has simply sat on the proverbial fence and not really addressed these problems. I am aware that some employees are willing to work under these unacceptable conditions, but that does not justify the situation. Lorry drivers are monitored because if they are tired then they are a danger to the public. Pharmacists need similar protection. Patients would be less than happy to know that their prescriptions have been dispensed or checked by exhausted and stressed pharmacists.

I urge the working party to address these issues through the guidance to corporate bodies by means of the Code of Ethics.

Peter Walker
Chief Executive Officer
Boots Pharmacists’ Association

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