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Letters to the Editor
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Pharmacy contract
Give all community pharmacists a vote
From Mrs L. K. Gilpin, MRPharmS
Having read Anne
Galbraith's report on the review of NHS pharmaceutical
contractual arrangements and the White
Paper on pharmacy in England,
I think there is much to look forward to with the recognition by the
Government of the different roles pharmacists are undertaking now and
could undertake in future.
However, there will be much to consider given that a lower proportion of the
overall pharmaceutical budget would be spent on dispensing activity and a higher
proportion on clinical activity, according to the Galbraith report. This is
likely to lead to an even greater change in the working conditions of employee
pharmacists and locums.
No doubt, by various methods we will make our opinions clear, but at some point
the discussion will disappear into the black hole that forms the negotiations
of the new community pharmacy contract. This is the point at which most pharmacists
become disenfranchised.
I no longer think this is acceptable in this day and age. It is the employees
and locums who will be the instruments for change. We are the ones putting
in the extra training and becoming accredited to do the additional work. We
should be included at every stage of the proceedings.
Last time the contract was negotiated, pharmacy contractors had a vote on whether
it should be accepted. This time I think all community pharmacists, owners,
employees and locums, should be included in the negotiations and the vote.
If we are going to move forward to this brave new world, let us go together.
Lindsey Gilpin
New Malden, Surrey
English Pharmacy Board Election Candidate |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal