The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7482 p681
15 December 2007

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

PDF 70K, Acrobat Reader

• NHS (2)
• Retention fees (5)
• Postgraduate education
• Independent prescribing
• Registration
• The profession (2)
• Pack sizes
• Retirement

Letters to the Editor

Independent prescribing

Why does another profession supervise?

From Dr D. M. McNaughton, MRPharmS

I am rather saddened to learn that when pharmacists undertake independent pharmacy prescribing courses they are required to have a supervising medical doctor. Am I alone in thinking that surely, as a profession, we can use our own people to mentor students? It seems strange that we ask another profession to approve our learning.

There is no funding here in Lothian for the mentoring medical doctor so, for those undertaking the training, insult is added as they must go “cap in hand” to another professional.

Is this another instance of pharmacists, and particularly the leaders and negotiators in pharmacy, adopting a subservient professional position? Perhaps the extra income that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society will soon be enjoying will encourage a more professionally robust stance to be taken. How refreshing would that be?

David M. McNaughton
Community pharmacist
Edinburgh

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (Postgraduate education)
Next Topic (Registration)