2010: The year that was...

C+D takes a look back over the last 12 months to see how 2010 was for pharmacy

January
No sooner has the year kicked off than the country grinds to a halt with an arctic blizzard. Fortunately the government has an idea about how pharmacists in England can keep themselves warm, supporting plans to substitute generics for branded prescriptions. The plans get a mixed vote from pharmacists, who recognise the potential savings but not necessarily the impact it will have for patients (and the hassle for pharmacists). Obesity drugs also make the headlines, as the European Medicines Agency decides to suspend sibutramine after the SCOUT trial shows an increased risk of cardiovascular risk.

Good month for: Stop Remote Supervision. The campaign's candidates claim a landslide victory in the professional leadership body elections, claiming nine of 11 seats on the English board and two on the Welsh one.

Bad month for: Homeopathy – and the pharmacies that sell it. Campaigners target Boots in protest against the multiple selling homeopathic products, with protesters in 12 cities congregating on January 30 to down homeopathic products in a "mass overdose". The campaign attracts national attention, and generates strong debate over whether pharmacists should be providing treatments that lack evidence.

Most read news stories of the month

1. GPhC launch delayed as fears surface over search powers
2. Government backs pharmacists to substitute generics for brands
3. The Stop Remote Supervision candidates in election triumph

Quote of the month, February: "It's the same as with cornflakes: somebody would say ‘Are they Kellogg's? Because if they're not, I don't want them'" Rowlands Pharmacy commercial director John D'Arcy on generic substitution

February
February brings worrying news for contractors across the English capital: NHS London announces more than 100 polyclinics are set to open by 2013. Pharmacists express concern that established pharmacies could find themselves sidelined by the plans, although guidance is put in place to try to protect existing premises.
In other news, the RPSGB pledges to launch a campaign for original pack dispensing, while the existence of its regulation successor the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) edges that bit closer, after the House of Lords approves the draft Pharmacy Order. The C+D Senate also gets into gear, delivering its verdict on the government's generic substitution plans.

Good month for: Pharmacists' CPD. The RPSGB publishes data on its CPD call and review programme, with around 80 per cent of pharmacists having received an ‘excellent' rating.

Bad month for: Lloydspharmacy. The multiple is forced to announce possible job cuts at its head office, driven by reduced funding for community pharmacy in England.
 

Most read news stories of the month

1. Multiples blast contract funding as Lloyds looks to make job cuts
2. CPD reviews: the results are in
3. Boots to urge YouTube to remove leaked video


March
The Elizabeth Lee saga continues, as the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) reveals the pharmacist, who was criminally prosecuted for a dispensing error despite not being responsible for the patient's death, will appeal her conviction. It's still bad news for pharmacists working under the threat of criminal action, as the sector is left waiting for promised guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service to protect pharmacists from jail for a single dispensing error.
And it's bad news at the PSNC conference, too, as pharmacy minister Mike O'Brien reveals services promised in the 2008 pharmacy white paper will be funded by shifting cash away from other parts of the pharmacy contract.

Good month for: Helen Gordon. The former CEO of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists wins the role of chief executive of the future professional leadership body for pharmacy.

Bad month for: The GPhC. Pharmacy's future regulator faces such heavy criticism of its proposed standards that it has to go back to the drawing board and prepare for a consultation on revised proposals.
 

Most read news stories of the month

1. Elizabeth Lee to appeal conviction
2. RPSGB sets PLB fee at £192
3. Elizabeth Lee error did not cause patient's death

Quote of the month, April: "We are deeply saddened that this distinguished career should end in such an ignominious way" Ian Simpson expresses his shock after former colleague and CPP chair Charles Butler (left) is convicted of fraud and illegal drugs possession

April
Pharmacists hit back after David Cameron tells an audience at a live election debate that methadone treatment doesn't deal with drug misuse, and rehab should be used instead.
Meanwhile, a volcanic ash cloud leaves many delegates of the Avicenna conference stranded, but does not disrupt the medicines supply chain as is feared. The press rages on as pharmacists ask themselves if they should be allowed to opt out of supplying contraception if they have a conscientious objection.

Good month for: Contract applications north of the border. The Scottish Government announces plans to simplify pharmacy applications.

Bad month for: The NPA and Lloydspharmacy. Both have their top bods
quit this month. John Turk resigns from the NPA while Lloydspharmacy MD Richard Smith announces he is leaving the chain.
 

Most read news stories of the month

1. ‘Murky double life' leads to three-year jail term
2. Lloydspharmacy chief Richard Smith quits
3. Sector rallies behind methadone after Cameron's TV debate attack


May
C+D announces the results of its Salary Survey 2010, which shows pharmacists experienced an average pay rise of 2 per cent in the previous year, but 33 per cent of contractors were forced to cut their own pay during the same period.
Meanwhile, following the lengthy process of deciding who is in charge after the first hung parliament in 35 years, Earl Howe is named pharmacy minister, a move welcomed by many in the sector.

Good month for: Elizabeth Lee. The court of appeal rules the locum convicted of a dispensing error should pay a fine of just £300, and overturns her jail sentence.

Bad month for: Sandra Gidley. After losing her parliamentary seat, the pharmacist-politician warns that the House of Commons is a "black hole" for pharmacy, as other key political pharmacy champions are also ousted from the house in the general election.

Most read news stories of the month

1. Elizabeth Lee overturns jail sentence
2. C+D and PDA Salary Survey results revealed
3. Lloydspharmacy hit by waiting time complaints


June
In an unprecedented act of rebellion, Guernsey pharmacists threaten to break from the RPSGB, stating that they are set to form their own regulatory body.
Following Elizabeth Lee's appeal success the previous month, the industry is disappointed by the CPS's failure to deliver clearer guidance on dispensing errors.
And the third annual C+D Awards honours the best in pharmacy at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

Good month for: Healthy Living Pharmacies. Six pharmacies are accredited with Healthy Living status in Portsmouth PCT, attracting adulation from the rest of the profession for the scheme's achievements so far.

Bad month for: Dispensing errors. The CPS finally delivers guidance on the prosecution of dispensing errors, a year after they had been promised. But the sector is frustrated to hear they "change nothing", according to legal experts.

Most read news stories of the month

1. Lloydspharmacy rapped by MHRA over advertising rules breach
2. Dispensing error protection talks hit ‘difficulties'
3. PCT taken to court over services payment

Quote of the month, July: "From a personal perspective it's good luck and good riddance." PharmaPlus MD Hiten Patel, on the plans to scrap PCTs

July
The summer starts on a high for health secretary Andrew Lansley, as he launches his health white paper, Liberating the NHS. PCTs are to be abolished, GP consortia are to take the commissioning reins and a new pharmacy contract is to be built on payment by performance, the policy document for England says. The reaction from pharmacy is mixed, with some saying the removal of patchy PCTs could be a good thing, but always wary of the new commissioning powers for GPs. Meanwhile the stock shortages situation continues, as C+D reveals the DH has been in secret talks with manufacturers of affected drugs, and Northern Ireland contractors win £28 million in compensation for outstanding money owed to them from illegal category M reductions.

Good month for: Alliance Boots. Executive chairman Stefano Pessina tells C+D he thinks sustained double-digit growth is possible for the group, saying: "It is our mantra and we strongly believe we can achieve it."

Bad month for: PCTs and minor ailments services. The NHS white paper sees the announcement that PCTs will be scrapped by 2013, while C+D reveals trusts across England are considering stopping minor ailments schemes in a bid to cut costs.

Most read news stories of the month

1. Minor ailments schemes scrapped
2. PSNC backs Lansley's health white paper
3. Lansley demands fewer errors and increased reporting


August
As the sun shines down all pharmacy eyes are on the English capital, where London mayor Boris Johnson is busy backing C+D's campaign to highlight pharmacy services such as HPV vaccination and minor ailments. Unfortunately, just a week later the good news is tarnished as C+D reveals London pharmacies were targeted over 200 times by criminals in 2009, with crimes including assault, armed robbery and sexual offences. CPD also claims its first victims, with five unnamed pharmacists referred to the RPSGB's Investigating Committee for failing to meet standards.

Good month for: Machines. Sainsbury's announces it will be trialling "Express Prescription" vending machines in two stores, which some C+D readers say reduces the profession to glorified vending machines; Boots says it will trial telemedicine services in two of its flagship stores.

Bad month for: Enhanced services. After Surrey pharmacists see their smoking cessation service axed in what the LPC calls a "major hatchet operation" to reduce the PCT's budget, tales of service suspensions follow from across the country.

Most read news stories of the month

1. Five pharmacists face investigation for CPD breaches
2. Superdrug halves dispensing charge and scraps mark-up
3. Sainsbury's responds to C+D readers' vending machine fears


September
Category M dominates the early autumn headlines with the announcement that contractors face a £140 million clawback to be taken in three waves: £60m in October, a further £60m in January and the remaining £20m over the course of the next financial year. PSNC warns pharmacies to prepare for the cutbacks; multiples criticise the clawback and say they will need to make a series of spending cuts to manage; and experts warn the cuts could be the tipping point for some smaller businesses.

Good month for: Medicines management services. Pharmacists could cut care home medication errors by 91 per cent if given full responsibility for medicines management, a trial carried out by Midhurst Pharmacy in London suggests.

Bad month for: Medicines stocks. The C+D Stock Survey 2010 reveals the extent of shortages problems, with 80 per cent of pharmacists saying getting hold of branded medicines is tougher than ever. Patients fare no better, as C+D receives 42 accounts of patient trauma caused by shortages, ranging from anxiety and distress to hospital admissions.

Most read news stories of the month

1. First CPD case goes before RPSGB Investigating Committee
2. Contractors facing category M hit of £140m under funding deal
3. GPhC agrees 2011 fees and direct debit charges

October
The RPSGB may have finally gone the way of the dodo only the previous month but its memory is tarnished almost immediately as October kicks off with a report on its handling of disciplinary cases, a record that experts variously describe as "appalling", "horrendous" and "obscene". The same week, Helen Gordon promises a "very different" leadership body, as C+D puts readers' questions to the new RPS chief.
It's a busy month for C+D, as our PCT Investigation reveals "shocking" enhanced service spend variation across the country, and the C+D Conference at the Pharmacy Show hears former health secretary Alan Milburn lambast pharmacy's lack of political clout.

Good month for: Mike Holden. The Portsmouth Healthy Living Pharmacy initiative – in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight LPC of which he is chief officer – publishes an interim report detailing its successes, as Mr Holden is named the next chief executive of the NPA.

Bad month for: Generic substitution and Avandia. The government ditches plans to allow pharmacists to dispense generics against branded scripts, while the popular rosiglitazone-based type 2 diabetes treatment is withdrawn.

Most read news stories of the month

1. Alliance Boots announces 900 job losses
2. Boots launches own-brand Pharmaceuticals healthcare range
3. Boots urges students not to be put off pharmacy

Quote of the month, November: "NHS Prescription Services is in a mess but there isn't a magic bullet here" PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe

November
Prescription pricing errors are back in the headlines, branded "ludicrous" after PSNC
reveals contractors are likely to need further compensation from NHS Prescription Services. Reimbursement and funding also dominates the annual LPC Conference, with contractor representatives calling purchase profit clawbacks "manifestly unfair" and dispensing at a loss "morally indefensible".
The conference also sees PSNC launch web-based system PharmaBase for managing and building evidence for enhanced services, and pharmacy minister Earl Howe back a national pharmacy service for people prescribed a medicine for the first time.

Good month for: Boots and Asda. The former reports a revenue rise of 6 per cent in the first half of this financial year, as the latter opens its 200th pharmacy and announces expansion plans for 2011.

Bad month for: The RPS. Almost 900 members are revealed to have quit in the two months since the new leadership body shed its regulatory role (and mandatory membership for pharmacists).
 

Most read news stories of the month

1. MSD issues out-of-stock warning on Cerazette and Mercilon
2. Almost 900 quit Royal Pharmaceutical Society
3. NI pharmacist avoids removal from register after error

Quote of the month, December: "Pharmacists need to understand what and how the new world will operate, sell themselves and offer solutions" Lloydspharmacy's Andy Murdock on the need for pharmacy to step up to the plate to realise the potential of the public health white paper

December
The year goes out with a bang with the publication of England's much-anticipated public health white paper, which praises pharmacy as "a valuable and trusted public health resource". Pharmacy welcomes the policy cautiously, warning that the "warm words" need to be backed by action. Earl Howe also says that pharmacists must be used more to affect the proposals in the year's earlier NHS white paper.
Meanwhile, national organisations the NPA, CCA and AIMp promise to represent pharmacy in a stronger, more united way with the formation of Pharmacy Voice, a new organisation to cover their representation functions.

Good month for: John D'Arcy. The Rowlands commercial director and one-time NPA chief executive is appointed managing director at sister company Numark, after Tony Mottram steps down.

Bad month for: GP-pharmacist relationships. A C+D online poll finds that just 5 per cent of pharmacists have talked to their local practices about GP consortia, and only 7 per cent more have plans to do so. Pharmacy representatives brand the findings "concerning".

Most read news stories of the month

1. Pharmacist convicted of illegally advertising Viagra
2. 52 pharmacists referred to NCAS over performance
3. MSD issues out-of-stock warning on Cerazette and Mercilon