The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7413 p188
12 August 2006

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

PDF 30K, Acrobat Reader

· The profession (2)
· Regulation
· Code of Ethics (2)

Letters to the Editor

The profession

Reach a wider audience

From Dr B. P. Curwain, MRPharmS

I would like to reinforce the message in your editorial (PJ, 5 August, p150). Letters to The Journal are read mostly by pharmacists. The PJ is an excellent medium for us to have discussions within the profession but there are clearly times when we must aim to reach a wider audience.

A few months ago, in response to some intemperate remarks about the development of non-medical prescribing, I was moved to write to The Times. To my surprise, it printed my letter about a week later. The following day, a consultant physician colleague approached me after a committee meeting to say that he had seen my letter. We were able then to have a sensible discussion of the issues.

So, pharmacists should write to the national press on pharmaceutical matters. Perhaps it would be helpful also if, when the editor sees such communications, they are mentioned in the PJ, thus reminding us that we can be heard in the wider world.

Brian Curwain
Member of Council
Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Defend our role!

From Mr A. B. Sutherland, MRPharmS

I read, with interest, David Thomas’s letter about the letter praising hospital pharmacists in The Daily Telegraph (PJ, 29 July, p132) and felt no small amount of pride seeing a colleague receive such praise in the national press.

Now, imagine my horror the following day on reading The Times. A columnist called “Dr Copperfield” wrote his Saturday column under the title “Just grab the pills and run” (The Times, “Body and soul” supplement, 29 July, p4) in which the author wrote a highly disparaging piece about community pharmacists and medicines use reviews.

I hope that in the same vein as doctors and nurses, who will vigorously defend their profession from attacks in press, a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Council will write in defence of our community colleagues and their extended role.

Adam Sutherland
Glasgow

Send your letter to The Editor

Next Topic (Regulation)