The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7480 p621
1 December 2007

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• Registration (3)
• Retention fees
• Influenza
• NHS
• Community pharmacy
• Ventolin
• The Society

Letters to the Editor

Retention fees

Accounts must show we get value for money

From Mr W. T. Brookes, FRPharmS

I welcome the news that the proposed increase for non-practising pharmacists has been reduced from a £30 increase to a £3 one. It would be churlish for me to do otherwise as it enables me to rescind my intention to resign from the Register (PJ, 18 August 2007, p178).

It is a pity we had so much uncertainty while the Treasurer redid his sums. But as your Leading article of 17 November 2007 (p548) points out there is still unfinished business, such as staged payments and the position of part-time pharmacists on low incomes. Surely the generosity shown to people such as me could have been extended to those whose services are so vital to many businesses.

In addition we need to be sure that the extra income is spent wisely for the benefit of the profession and the public. The accounts must show that we get value for money.

Finally, the Treasurer has said that the outcome of the consultation process did not make for comfortable reading. Did he expect otherwise? In the interest of transparency and openness, the Council needs to share that outcome with us.

Bill Brookes
Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire

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