PDA will urge employers to abide by seven workplace 'commitments'
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has launched a charter to improve patient safety by ensuring pharmacists have appropriate staffing arrangements and working conditions.
The Safer Pharmacies Charter contains seven “commitments”, which aim “to prevent errors slipping through the safety net”, according to the PDA.
Seven areas covered in the charter:
- No self-checking
- Safe staffing
- Access to a pharmacist
- Adequate rest
- Respect for professional judgement
- Raising concerns
- Physical safety
Read the charter in full here
These commitments are “basic standards which most patients would assume already exist as part of the pharmacy system, such as pharmacists being given rest breaks, and the right quality and quantity of support staff being available”, said PDA chairman Mark Koziol at the charter’s launch event in the House of Commons last week (December 5).
In its charter, the PDA states that “less than safe working conditions risk harm to patients, as well as damaging consequences for pharmacists – such as impacting on their physical or mental health”.
“Staffing levels are being reduced, trained staff removed to cover other parts of the pharmacy, [and] targets to sell items or hit other commercial imperatives are forcibly imposed,” Mr Koziol stressed.
“All of this leads to a diminution of patient safety – and as the valuable safety net service starts to break down, mistakes may not be picked up and patients can endure harm,” he added.
What next?
The PDA said that “in the coming weeks” it will “consult with employers and seek government support to get widescale commitment” to the charter.
It will also “encourage all the profession’s representative bodies to join in the creation of a combined advertising campaign to raise public awareness of the important and valuable safety role being undertaken by pharmacists”.
Tweets from the charter's launch event
Shadow SoS for health @JonAshworth has wasted no time in endorsing the commitments in @the_pda safer pharmacies charter. Says "It's not an efficiency saving to ask pharmacists to do more with less." Mentions deliveries as a service already being cut because of #pharmacycuts pic.twitter.com/eCwSNgvGMn
— Lilian Anekwe (@CandDLilian) December 5, 2017
.@the_pda safer pharmacy charter sets out 7 commitments they want to see to ensure pharmacies are safe. MK says it will be asking employees, @DHgovuk and @TheGPhC to endorse it.
— Lilian Anekwe (@CandDLilian) December 5, 2017
The PDA launched a Safer Pharmacies Charter at The House of Commons. The commitments in the Charter support the creation of safe working conditions for pharmacists and therefore, improved safety for patients.
— PDA Students (@the_pda_student) December 11, 2017
Please RT for all students and pre-regs. https://t.co/jTEJIZuNx8 pic.twitter.com/3ZrhNwM8HV
Was a very successful launch, fantastic support for the charter and pharmacy from @KevinBarronMP and @JonAshworth. This is some thing the profession can get behind and support pharmacists to deliver optimal patient care. Well done @the_pda_union and @the_pda. #saferpharmacies https://t.co/1lPgqpOVrQ
— Stephen Riley (@pharmaste_82) December 7, 2017
Pleased to be at @the_pda reception in Westminster today launching the Safer Pharmacies Charter #saferpharmacies pic.twitter.com/w2OHInJT1V
— Kevan Jones MP (@KevanJonesMP) December 5, 2017
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