The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7443 p309
17 March 2007

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• White Paper (4)
• Funding for services
• Prescription charges
• Community pharmacy (2)
• Pharmacist prescribing
• Chlamydia testing
• Pfizer products
• Medicines recycling
• Skill mix
• Retention fees
• Retail pharmacy

Letters to the Editor

Pharmacist prescribing

Do not undersell the profession’s value

From Mrs K. A. Acott, MRPharmS

I am writing to raise my concerns regarding the current value placed on pharmacist prescribers by both commissioners, employing organisations and our own profession. Marian Bradley’s situation (PJ, 24 February, p217) is by no means unique: I have been approached on a number of occasions by pharmacists who have had their salary downgraded due to Agenda for Change.

As a prescriber, regardless of whether one is supplementary or independent, this role come with increased personal liability due to greater accountability and clinical responsibility linked to direct and individualised patient care. Therefore I do not understand how this role can be graded below, for example, a management responsibility for a budget within a primary care trust. If the profession views prescribing by pharmacists as a key development for the future then the Agenda for Change process must support this additional responsibility.

I have often been asked what value I would place on a pharmacist prescriber. I suggest that one should not be paid higher than a GP locum rate (averaging £45–£80 per hour depending on where they work) but certainly higher than an average locum pharmacist rate (currently averaging £20–30 per hour).We need to start as we mean to go on.

It is pointless undervaluing this service if the motivation is on us prescribers to prove our worth. We have many other barriers to break let alone one within our own profession. So come on, all those who are involved in regrading their colleagues with prescribing qualifications, please do not undersell the future of the profession.

Karen Acott
Barnstaple, Devon

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