Many 100-hour pharmacies could go under 'over the next five years'

The Government again - Until Pharmacy thinks of uniting and telling the governmeny listen to our concerns or we will do what the GPs have done we will not get anywhere

Do Mr Jeffers's comments have anything to do with the fact that most of MedicX pharmacy contracts are 100 hour? MedicX Pharmacy are in a privileged position in that it's parent company develops health centres. Did MedicX check on the quality of service provided by existing contractors prior to opening their 100 hour contracts? The goalposts should never be allowed to move- if a contract was granted purely on it being open 100 hours a week then it must remain that way. If it's unviable then it should be allowed to fail- it proves that it was a poor business decision in the first place!

Mr Jeffers says: "had to be a way to stop local monopolies from developing"

Well, Mr Jeffers, how shall we stop your "local" monopolies developing in health centers.

Yet again, nonsense views driven by hubris.

"he warned that to have no competition in the market would be bad for patients"

OK, well lets see, does that mean Mr Jeffers is saying that his health center pharmacies are indeed bad for patients. In essence Health Center pharmacies kill off competition by nature of their geography.

In the end it should all be about patient choice. If a new pharmacy opens in an area that already has a pharmacy or pharmacies, whether it succeeds or not will be down to how many people choose to use it. You would expect that choice to be based on access, convenience, level of service, services provision, etc. My experience is that competition drives up standards. If Steve Jeffers realises benefits for his company by exploiting opportunities to work with GPs and the pharmacies are successful because the patients choose to use them that is good. Some of the commentators should also know that not all MedicX Pharmacies are in Healthcentre or GP Surgery premises and they are still successful because of what they offer differentiates them from the competition. Before anyone asks I have no business or personal relationship with MedicX or any GPs that have decided to work with them.

More 100 hour pharmacies just seems to be an illogical use of the pharmacists expertise and training. In our town we now have seven 100 hour pharmacies and seven pharmacists working at 6am in the morning and 11pm at night.
Wouldn't it be a much better use of the experise to follow our GP colleagues and amalgamate practices so we can afford second pharmacists who could improve sevices and create "specialist pharmacists".
Perhaps i'm just dreaming

The following comment was left in our message boards by David Tran, community pharmacist:

100 hr pharmacies create jobs for pharmacists - We should be grateful as work is so scarce!! There is an abundance of pharmacist from the EU and also schools of pharmacies have nearly doubled . I hear some pharmacists are considering being employed as dispensers - What a shame !!!

Ok having read this article I would like to elaborate on what I think the market should exist as.

1. I do not believe their is a real need to open any-more pharmacies in the UK because in reality most people has access to a pharmacy within a reasonable drive or walking distance and most pharmacies offer delivery service.

2. 100 hour pharmacies are a mistake because they are not viable prospect because they need to have double the turnover as a 40hour pharmacy to make a profit. And in reality they harm the near by pharmacies.

3. Red arrow me on the last point but I also believe the concept of allowing single company owning pharmacies in the excess of 10 is the biggest issue. Because if one company is allowed to own 100 of pharmacy nationwide or small chain dominate a particular area then it means that company has a monopoly on the area which means their not much competition going so that is the biggest issue.

4. Doctors must not be allowed to be involved in owning a pharmacy because if they wanted to run a pharmacy they should have studied pharmacy. I don't think its acceptable to have dispensing doctor if that is a case then a contract for pharmacy must be offered to pharmacist.

Mr Jeffers makes some interesting points,however, small and medium size independents often sell to large multiples who then are monopolies in certain areas. The companies with lots of cash flow can get massive bank loans to pay silly prices for Pharmacies so young enthusiastic Pharmacists are effectively hampered from buying or starting a new Pharmacy. The 100 hour Pharmacy is a great idea as it can provide a wide range of services over extended hours and can save the NHS a fortune by patients seeking expert advice from the Pharmacist as opposed to the GP. eg minor ailments, EHC, stop smoking, People are ill 24/7 365 days of the year and many 100 hour Pharmacies can be viable businesses. Excellent quality service is what is has always been about but the Lloyds attached to a local surgery has waiting times off up to 40minutes because quite simply they can pay the most for pharmacies next to or in surgeries. Whether you consider that a good service is a matter of opinion. Role on the days when independents will sell to single or small size companies instead of taking the biggest cheque from the multiple. Its a question of principle or greed

I have spoken to many young pharmacists and suggested that it would be wise for two or three of them to club together and buy a business, share the risk, have committed input to make the business succeed etc, there are many good reasons to do so. I like many want a good price ultimately for my business for one pharmacist it would need deep pockets possibly therefore a multiple, but for three it would be possible and a give all three a very good living. I would happily go with the latter

Why is it that if I follow the link from the "IPF urges Department of Health: please resolve 100-hour issues" to this blog, it has less entries as contributors than if I access the message boards via the home page? The C&D appears to have a bug.

Well said Kev