C+D Senators clash over model for new pharmacy contract

What concerns me is simple, with all these "service is the way forward" and "move us away from a supply contract" etc etc etc what do we actually want for pharmacy?

I am a pharmacist and a pharmacy owner so I know what I am talking about. Pharmacy has one skill that no other professional can deliver and that is the supply of medication. And in that I don't simply mean labelling, bagging and handing out medication. I'm talking about ensuring the safety of the patient, counselling and communicating with other health professionals to ensure that our patients are provided their medication in the safest possible manner, to ensure they understand what and why they are taking it for and are rest assured that what they are taking has been reviewed by a Clinician that is trained specifically in medication and knows more about medication, their interactions, dosages, side effects etc etc then any other medical professional in this country.

Thats our skill and reason for our profession lest we forget who we are and where we came from. Changing the profession to suit a government that insists on change for one focus only "To Save Money". And in that pharmacies are raided once again. We all know where services have got us, and for those that don't its put us in direct competition with the likes of GPs and Nurses. And for what end...... "To Save Money"

Why is it that educated people can't see that by "radically" changing a contract will result in three things:

1) The lessening of the importance of pharmacists core function as the only medicines provider.
2) Using our profession to compete for scraps which will also be offered to other professionals.
3) Yet again more work for our already over worked staff and clinicians for what will be less pay.

This is a road that pig headed and stubborn individuals seem dead set to go down and their reasoning is just completely lost on me. Protect your profession is all I want to leave you with. Fight for what is the only feather we have in our cap, for if we lose that then we've lost what has made and protected our profession for years and asking us to be paid less for supply, only to give us that money back for service and then ask us to do both is just plain ridiculous.

If there is such a need for pharmacy to provide more services then pay us in addition so we can hire more staff to provide it. But asking us to consistently do more for what will ultimately be less and to weaken our profession in doing so is completely ludicrous.

But alas who am I?? I only live and breath this profession but as per usual my comments will no doubt fall on deaf ears.

Good to read such a well thought out reply from Dhanoa. Totally agree with your observations.

Clive

"counselling and communicating with other health professionals"....etc etc. The problem is: does this happen all the time? Do all of your colleagues do this? 'Cos when Community Pharmacy has been asked (e.g. Which surveys), it has always been found wanting.....This needs to be done thoroughly and consistently because when I receive dispensed prescriptions, or see others receiving, they invariably get them in a sealed bag from a counter assistant with no communication.....

Dhanoa's comments are aspirational. Pharmacists are seen as mere dispensers in a shop. Why? Because 80% check and bag and than whinge when they are required deliver outcomes. These are the majority who put pharmacy to shame. Well done to 20% who deliver quality services.

At last someone with conviction and passion for PHARMACY has come forward. Since registering all I have been told that the Pharmacist can do this to help - no mention of what he will be paid. My observation over the past 30 years is that the Pharmacist has been competed for scraps with other professionals. Pharmacy as a profession is doomed if pharmacists do not stand up to the threats. As individuals we can only do this by how and who we vote to our regulatory and representative bodies. The present representatives DO NOT REPRESENT PHARMACISTS INTERESTS.
V Patel

Sorry to disagree but there is another profession more than adequately trained to supply medicines safely to patents and more! That is the medical profession.

How little has changed! As ever physician vs apothecary with the divide and rule philosophy of a corporate (and soon to be privatised) NHS calling the shots.

I have to agree though. Take out vested interests. Scrap the current model and design a system where patient need and desires come first!

Take pharmacy out of the retail sector and integrate it within "primary care".

Yep, I'm a dispensing doctor!

Don't waste your breaths folks, its too late, your all going to be bullied down the routes were big bussiness wants to travel, and thats for them to make as much profit as possible for their shareholders and to pay back their big borrowings, all at the expense of the NHS MONEY POT (public taxes); they want to travel down the route of "ROB" (Rip Of Britain).....Im all in favour for pharmacists paid for their clinical input but not for corporate vulturism!!!

llll

excellent and honest response