Not providing advanced services will harm pharmacy's reputation
About half the pharmacies in England are still not providing advanced services, Sue Sharpe, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, revealed this week at the UniChem
convention in Barbados.
“If we want to be in the frame”, said Mrs Sharpe, “we
need to work to be there.” She said that the number of contractors
who have not changed their practice or premises is worrying. “They
are a real problem for the reputation of pharmacy, for everyone.”
“Other providers, including the voluntary sector, are being encouraged
to tender for providing services,” she pointed out. “And
in case anyone thinks that, longer term, a simple dispensing service
will provide a profitable business, think again — it will not,” Mrs
Sharpe warned participants.
She went on: “The contractual framework [in England and Wales]
offers a window of security, giving pharmacists time and the financial
comfort to shift from a dispensing service to providing a wider range
of health care. Too many pharmacists have not made that shift.” She
believes that many are doing the minimum to meet the contract requirements.
“We will find it impossible to protect nationally negotiated services
if large numbers of contractors turn their backs on them,” she
added.
Mike Smith, UniChem convention chairman, said he was “horrified
by the lack of engagement of some pharmacists with the new contract.
They do no medicines use reviews, they have shoddy premises, they have
cupboards for consulting rooms, their hours don’t fit with the
local surgery — and we all know of them.”
He pointed out that the profession is often judged by the worst that
represent it. “Get your act together now,” he stressed.
“We hear all kinds of reasons why pharmacists don’t do [MURs] — lack
of time, lack of training and — dare I say it — lack of confidence,” he
added.
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