The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7485 p54
19 January 2008

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• Industrial pharmacists (4)
• Community pharmacy
• Responsible pharmacist (2)
• Package design
• The profession (2)
• The Society (3)
• Registration (2)
• Statins
• Retirement (2)
• Onlooker
• Caption competition

Letters to the Editor

Retirement

Society for retired pharmacists

From Mr J. S. Beadle, MRPharmS

Although it seems a marvellous idea to have a society for retired pharmacists (PJ, 15 December 2007, p683) the problem will be to find a suitable name for it. As I understand it, any attempt to use the word “pharmacist” will invoke a fee.

Incidentally, we learn that there were 17.4 per cent of registered pharmacists on the non-practising list for 2007 and the average age of these is 53. One wonders how many of these are totally retired and would leave if the fees increase any further.

One hopes that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has planned ahead for this mass departure.

John Beadle
Gravesend, Kent

Why not join the NHS fellowship?

From Mr C. Billington, MRPharmS

After reading the letter by Sheila Weston regarding the idea of a society for retired pharmacists (PJ, 15 December 2007, p683), I find myself sympathising with her. However, through the courtesy of your columns, I would like to point out the existence of the National Health Service Retirement Fellowship.

Although the membership of the fellowship is open to anyone who has retired and is over 50 years of age and has worked in the NHS, this includes contractors and their employees as well as those directly employed by the NHS. There are branches of the NHSRF throughout the British Isles and further information can be found on its website or by telephoning the national office on 01305 361317.

Anyone who is planning their future retirement now, or indeed those who have already retired, are encouraged take up membership of the NHS Retirement Fellowship. Our branch in Huddersfield already has four retired pharmacists as members, so why not follow our lead and consider joining?

Colin Billington
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

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