We need recognition now
I saw a debate on the BBC news channel recently about the proposed NHS reforms being unfavoured by many doctors. Apparently many GP members of the GMC were not happy with the proposed changes and new powers to be given to them, but those who were actually in the trial phases were extremely happy with how it was going.
Both the presenter and health minister debated over the reforms as if the NHS only consisted of doctors and nurses. The health minister talked about the drug bill rising because of an ageing population, which was one of the main reasons for reform, but no mention of pharmacy or pharmacists?
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"If society and the governement don't recognise the importance of pharmacists as they do for nurses, I don't see how GPs will" |
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If society and the government do not recognise the importance of pharmacists as they do even for nurses, I don't see how GPs will. It has to start from the top down. It's all well and good when I hear keynote speakers and invited MP guests to conferences and ceremonies mention pharmacy and how the government recognise its importance, but I want to see it. Two of my local GPs, who own and run their own small practices, really appreciate the efforts we go to to help their patients and receptionists. However, the more modern ones, of which we have have four that we collect prescriptions from, small ‘mini clinics' with more than one doctor, seem to only care about cutting their costs and do not really see things as a bigger picture. |
We can't do everything
One of these surgeries has always refused to provide weekly scripts for dossette box patients. We all know how labour-intensive dossette boxes are to make and check, so it is only fair to ask for weekly or even fortnightly scripts.
Some PCTs pay per community patient, so it would not matter much, but mine does not. This particular surgery refuses point blank stating the senior partners confirmed they did not wish to sign more prescriptions than needed, as it takes too long.
Now, if GPs cannot see that an extra 10 minutes of scribbling on their part compared to the hours and hours taken to complete dossette boxes for patients is not asking for much, I doubt scrapping PCTs and putting these GPs in charge of the budget is going to do anything positive for us.
The GPs at this particular surgery recently convinced a neighbouring surgery to do the same. The other one had always provided weekly scripts but as of January 2012 stopped, giving the same reasoning.
I spoke to both surgeries and even told them about repeat dispensing, which would result in them signing only one script, but even this fell on deaf ears and I was told it would still create extra workload on receptionists and they did not need that and, if it was a problem, then it would be advised the patient sought another pharmacy to dispense their prescriptions, who would accept monthly scripts.
Obviously you are not going to dismiss your patients so quickly, but these sorts of selfish decisions by GPs are further adding to the reduction in margins and can cripple cash flow overnight. I definitely got the impression that they could not care less, so as long as their workload stayed as low as possible and their budgets adhered to at any cost. It's this sort of thing which makes me personally feel the scrapping of PCTs and power-shifts to GP consortia will make things worse for community pharmacy. This in turn will affect everything from staff shortages to locum rates etc.
I genuinely hope that future healthcare in the community has a strong partnership between GPs and pharmacists, because we do not have that currently. We see it in hospitals more, but not in the community. I do not want it to be a pipe dream but at present even if I mention independent prescribing to some GPs they are shocked that we are allowed to prescribe after "a quick course". Nurses prescribe every day at surgeries and GPs don't bat an eyelid.
Anyway, this rift that seems to still exist may need to be addressed early at university level, but until there is a direct incentive for BOTH parties to work together and need each other, not just pharmacists at the mercy of GPs, things will never permanently improve for the better. If only somebody in the government would realise this!"
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How do you think pharmacists will fare with GPs controlling the NHS budget?
Comment below or email haveyoursay@chemistanddruggist.co.uk |
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