The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7417 p307
9 September 2006

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· The Society
· Community pharmacy
· Control of entry
· Complementary medicine
· Controlled drugs
· Diabetes
· Pharmacy in the US

Letters to the Editor

Community pharmacy

Bringing locums in from the cold

From Mrs L. K. Gilpin, MRPharmS

In the short time that the locum pressure group Locum Voice has been formed, one concern has been repeatedly expressed.

When primary care trusts send out information on training and local meetings, the letters tend to go to the pharmacies in the area. Some locums, if they are lucky, discover the information but others do not and many locums feel excluded.

However, many PCTs at the moment are collecting the contact details of locum pharmacists in their area for the smart card. Although it is understood that information collected for one purpose cannot be used for another under the Data Protection Act, there is nothing to stop the PCTs, when they are sending out information about the smart card, asking for a locum’s permission to use his or her details for inclusion in invitations to meetings etc.

Since this is such a golden opportunity to bring locums in from the cold, I believe it should not be missed.

Lindsey Gilpin
New Malden, Surrey

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