Boots quizzes customers on P med self-selection
Exclusive The health and beauty giant is testing the water on the self-selection of P medicines by questioning patients on pharmacy layout. Superintendent Steve Banks (pictured) revealed that the results would sway Boots' stance on the issue
Boots has started researching patient views on the display of P medicines, which the health and beauty giant has revealed will determine whether it goes ahead with self-selection.
Boots told C+D it would consider findings from qualitative research carried out at the end of last year, which asked consumers about their buying habits and preferences for pharmacy layout. The multiple will also conduct quantitative research, but could not yet confirm timescales.
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"We want to be clear on what it is that patients are looking for from pharmacy before making any changes" Steve Banks, Boots |
 More on P med self-selection
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The findings would sway Boots' decision on the self-selection of P medicines, Boots' new superintendent pharmacist Steve Banks revealed in an exclusive interview with C+D last week. "We want to be clear on what it is that patients are looking for from pharmacy before making any changes," said Mr Banks, who took up the role of superintendent last month. |
GPhC: self-selection of P meds won't be ‘free-for-all'"I think that's always the first place to start – how will this empower patients to look after their own health?" he argued.
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Mr Banks' comments came after Boots healthcare public affairs director Tricia Kennerley said in September that the multiple was "cautiously positive" about the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC) plans to allow self-selection of P medicines from October this year. But she stressed that Boots would need to carefully consider the professional challenges involved and pledged to look at how the changes would work in practice. Last September, the GPhC proposed, as part of its premises standards, allowing P medicines to move into open display areas. The plans received a mixed response from the public, GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said, as some patients welcomed a greater choice while others wanted things to stay as they were. |
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Where the key players stand on P med self-selectionRPS "The GPhC must make clear that it is frontline pharmacists who will have final say on where medicines should be displayed, not shop planners in distant head offices. I can see very clearly there are commercial benefits... I do not see any benefits for patients." PDA "Medicines are not normal items of commerce. We strongly believe this is a dereliction of the GPhC's duties." Lloydspharmacy "This demands that the profession steps up to the plate to talk to and advise patients, adding the obvious value that our knowledge can bring to a successful consultation." Numark "These are potent products, not shampoos to be merchandised on shelves for patients to select which one they like best. Patients are not experts in medicines, pharmacists are." |
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What do you think self-selection of P medicines would mean for pharmacy? Comment below or email us at [email protected] You can also find C+D on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook |
