An uneasy truce

Mr Dispenser I see the point you are making. However times are a-changing and I think in order to improve services and communication closer links will need to be made. As for the practice meetings I would just turn up.

I agree with Suzanne - times are changing but only if pharmacists like you keep making contact with GPs on a regular (daily?) basis but make sure you give them something of value - either to them directly in terms of helping them achieve QOF points or reduce costs, or to benefit patients
Make sure they can't ignore you and the value to give

And there was me thinking that communication between GPs and Pharmacists had improved. Sadly it seems not. Over the years much has been said about breaking down the barriers - but while you still have arrogant doctors and pharmacists behaving like the 'poor relation' in primary care.... it will be a long, uphill struggle. ... This, along with the views of many older GPs, who still regard pharmacists as lesser health professionals because 'they sell products such as cuddly toys and perfumes' ...is allowing the negative image and the "us" and "them" culture to continue.

For goodness sake PHARMACISTS... stand up and be counted! You do a great job, the public love you and where would GPs be without your pharmacology expertise and super-sleuth double-checking!! If ever there was a week to shout about your profession this is it.... the headlines..."Drug errors hit 40% of the elderly by blundering GPs" gives you an ideal opportunity to contact your local surgeries and offer your help... Go for it.... and communicate...communicate.... communicate!!

Veronica Wray
info@veronicawray.com

Obviously I NEVER generalise or make sweeping statements about whole groups of people but in this case I feel I should make an exception.

General practitioners seem not to listen. To ANYONE. Take for example orlistat, Roche have allegedly written to all practices regarding shortages yet all of a sudden 90% of our patients present us with scripts for said item. We phoned them to inform them (as other pharmacies did I expect) yet still more scripts come thick and fast.

Going back further, the discontinuation and removal from the computer systems of intralgin gel. Six months later scripts were coming through only hand written. Perhaps in the belief that this will affect the non existence of the product. "but I'm a doctor and I want this patient to have this" are the words I imagine going through their head as they indignantly scrawl their intentions.

These are just two simple examples of my experiences of doctors not listening. If they won't hear us communicating these things to them how are we supposed to succeed with anything else?