cnd

The right customer for the job

2013-05-25T22:41:12Z

Then there's the punter who turns up at 30 seconds to closing time with a script dated last month - at least - and says he/she needs everything urgently - so much for treating the staff to a drink after work! They are all waiting in the pub while you dispense - oh - and the computer flags up that his MUR is due; area manager expects that every pharmacist shall do his/her duty.

At least our swivel-eyed loons are trying

2013-05-25T17:42:33Z

Yes Ian, re-reading this article it does come over more cynical than I intended! And your catch-22 clincher is great.

Pharmacy defends against report highlighting unsatisfactory medicines advic

2013-05-25T14:53:58Z

How does this affect self selection?
Well it just goes to show the current sytem is not working.
Some places are not even offering basic advice or even asking basic questions.

I am not surprised independents come out worse in this survey. Many are just after the sale in the till. Sad really.

Those venemently opposed to self selection are probably the one who give the most unsatisfactory service. Oh the irony!!!

At least our swivel-eyed loons are trying

2013-05-25T07:36:37Z

Love the idea of working it like jury service. Would that mean only students and locums on the board? The enthusiasm of one group, tempered by the cynicism and exhaustion of the other. Should make for exciting board meetings - I think we should give it a go!

Pharmacists must gather evidence to prove stock shortages, says BAPW

2013-05-24T23:33:43Z

Mr Sawer. You must inhabit a different planet to be so out of touch with current reality. Call in at any community pharmacy to see the evidence. Its not going away!

NHS 111's pharmacy blind spot undermines drive to slash A&E admissions

2013-05-24T21:06:30Z

On a practical note, it would help to review script charges, the conditions which are exempt and the minor ailment scheme, all at the same time. We should not have patients going to A&E when they could clearly obtain a medicine from a pharmacy.
Link back to original article

Don't tar all pharmacists with the same brush

2013-05-24T18:40:58Z

thebiggest problem is that community Pharmacists are not joined up-there is not a single representative on our CCG[we have tried very hard]
where as up until 2006 we had a very good relationship and many useful projects run in Thurrock-there are none now total disengagement
Pharmacists are the back bone of primary care but i am saddened to say that in Thurrock its very dark and not only that some pharmacists[mainly locums with due regards] do not understand cost implications and advice costly medications

supply of medications is enormous problem
yet they can all be solved if some one comes forward and talks to us-the LPC is also not at all engaging with CCGs

At least our swivel-eyed loons are trying

2013-05-24T16:38:09Z

Oh Xrayser you try to come across all cynical but you've missed the clincher of ' anybody who actively seeks power is fundamentally pschologically unfit to actually wield power'. Maybe we should work it like jury service, if you have been chosen you must go.

Automatic for the people

2013-05-24T16:25:43Z

Pholcodine? Really? Perhaps when it was Pholcodine linctus stuffed full of syrup that actually soothed the throat but the S/F stuff at recommended doses surely not; but you make a good point, what does Dr Livingstone mean by ' none of those over-the-counter remedies really help'? If he means 'cure' he's probably right but 'help' most of them certainly do in terms of relieving symptoms and generally making you feel better or does Dr Livingstone tell them on no account to waste money on honey, lemon, warm drinks etc. etc.
At least he does the antibiotic lecture; or does he then go on to prescribe them anyway like most GPs?

RAF technician struck off for theft

2013-05-24T15:12:09Z

Never said that did I. Anyway why don't you join up and see what it's like to serve in the forcs. his man was an NCO and probably made one mistake and you are too judgemental about people.

Don't tar all pharmacists with the same brush

2013-05-24T15:06:01Z

I find the author's reaction underwhelming. The fact is community pharmacy delivers on core and enhanced services which have had a patchy evaluation by many research groups. And if we are failing in terms of delivering basic minor illness information standards need a radical shakeup and re-validation on the horizon, RPS faculty and CPPE need to make community a specialist cadre within the profession and deliver higher standards of pharmaceutical care. I know this unpopular but sometimes we need to listen hard, accept the criticism and have an action plan to address the pertinent issues.
Link back to original article

Which? hunt

2013-05-24T14:20:52Z

Perhaps in a different sort of world, in which pharmacists had a proper office with a closed door and fewer distractions they would do better. But I wonder how well GPs would do if they didn't have ten exclusive minutes with each patient..

Automatic for the people

2013-05-24T14:11:07Z

"most of the stuff sold for minor ills has no evidence of benefit" - what a load of nonsense. Are we really saying there is no evidence for OTC analgesics, allergy treatments, indigestion remedies and all the hundreds of products that are identical to those the doctor prescribes?

The facts are that over 900 million OTC products are sold in the UK every year, about the same number as the number of prescriptions dispensed. If it weren't for self care and pharmacy support he would really know what overwork feels like.

It doesn't help patients when health professionals give different information and its even less help when they disparage each other. I suggest Dr Livingstone has a look at the Self Care Forum website for some helpful guidelines that he can use to help his patients self care

Pharmacists must gather evidence to prove stock shortages, says BAPW

2013-05-24T14:10:52Z

Is this idiot serious?? (Idiot is an opinion by the way).

Here, here's plenty of evidence.......http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/811/photokrqo.jpg/

(for those that cant see the link its a photo of the weekly AAH and Unichem out of stocks bulletins. Approx 132 items altogether).

Want more???

Pharmacists must gather evidence to prove stock shortages, says BAPW

2013-05-24T14:10:39Z

Evidence? Come into the pharmacy, and we can show you owings for the same item constantly.
Link back to original article

GPs and pharmacists split over NHS 111 inquiry

2013-05-24T14:08:45Z

Clinical assessment system = Questionnaire on a computer screen?
Link back to original article

RAF technician struck off for theft

2013-05-24T14:06:21Z

Tthe unfortunate bit isnot the selling on ebay , the unfortunate and criminal bit is the actual stealing.

How to break into senior management at a multiple

2013-05-24T09:23:20Z

I strongly agree with the previous comment.
The only valuable thing in some multiples (I have personally never worked for Co-oop) is experience. Lots of people with experience make a good company but not a great company.
If you look at pharmaceutical companies for example, if you have a science or medical degree and you want to break into management in most of the cases once reached the position of say product manager then it gets difficult to progress. This because a step further requires specific knowledge or skills that you can only acquire through further education (sometimes financed by the company). In retail Pharmacy, very often it seems not to be room for knowledge.
Different thing elsewhere: no any big corporation would give me the "lead" of its operation without me having never heard about Supply networks , Process and Product design-positioning and analysis, Lean synchronization etc..

And also..but do you really know what an MBA is? If it is a proper one done in a good University it equals to 5 years of live management experience dealing with live business cases such as M&A, marketing plans, corporate strategy etc..that you would only imagine in 5 years of management experience in a multiple (probably Co-op is different as it is a big company very diversified). Plus doing one of these top class MBA while you are working means giving up your life for 2 or three years and invest at least 25k..Did you have the courage to do this??
Big corporations knows the strategic impact of such a live knowledge and have specific channels to recruit MBAs. In fact every (proper) MBA graduate sees on average a 100% increase in salary after gaining the degree. So are all the Fortune500 company stupid in recruiting MBAs and paying them $$$$ ?

By having only people with experience, retail pharmacy will never develop as it should. And this will become an issue when in the next few years the easy profit deriving from prescriptions will be shrinking even more.

I would like to see real leaders driving our multiples today, otherwise we will end up like all the other pound-shop chains.

Great your career but please do not despise learning. It may be not useful for you but it makes the world elsewhere!

Automatic for the people

2013-05-24T07:53:54Z

Doctors don't like pharmacists. Probably because we have to phone them most of the time to tell them the dosage is wrong on the rx.

Dispensing errors due to be decriminalised next year

2013-05-24T07:32:12Z

I will be cautiously optimistic. At the moment, my impression is that the government recognises our sector's concern. The only question what they will eventually settle on. Will it actually strike the correct balance, or will it be watered down?