Pharmacy contractors sell up as category M clawbacks bite

Pharmacy has been getting worse for some time.Since we only have one paymaster and have limited negotiating powers we are the weakest link..err I mean easiest target for DoH savings.I sold my last shop due to the sentiments above but now face a world of no income and locum market of declining hourly rates that undervalues my qualifications and skills.
At least as an owner/manager I was guaranteed a job even if it was more stressful.
Somebody somewhere does need to tackle the DoH and ensure that owners receive a fair return on investment - if I could I would-it's one of the few matters I am passionate about.

It's all very well C&D reporting the obvious. How about Paragpuri & Co starting up a 'Pharmacy Spring'. And creating a rising up of pharmacists across the nation, from all avenues of the profession to block any further cuts and at the same time reduce our paper work as proposed for nurses. The drug supply needs to be nationalised so that we can earn wholly from services and the government pays out the manufacturers/wholesalers directly.

Hi Waldman,

Thanks for your comment.

I think many readers will agree with your views on the continued cuts to funding, ever-increasing paperwork and the ongoing supply chain issues - and there are probably many more issues that pharmacists want to see addressed. While C+D has tried to raise these issues through a number of investigations and campaigns, there's still more that needs to be done.

However, there are few solutions on the horizon, although Pharmacy Voice has proposed a new blueprint for community pharmacy which you may find a useful starting point.

You can access it at http://www.pharmacyvoice.com/downloads/PV_Community_brochure_AW_14_02_11.pdf.

I believe there should be further development on these proposals in 2012 and they could prove the catalyst for change. What do you think of their proposals?