Pharmacy must work on its public profile in the aftermath of a series of "damaging" media scandals, C+D readers have argued.

Ninety per cent of 79 respondents to a C+D survey – open for a further five days – said it was crucial for the profession to promote itself to patients and other health professionals. Eighty-eight per cent believe last December's BBC Inside Out investigation, which accused nine pharmacies in west London of selling prescription-only medicines without prescriptions, had tarnished the profession's reputation.

A third of respondents (32 per cent) believed the scandal had "severely" damaged pharmacy's image, while 56 per cent said that, while it had caused some damage, the public was aware it only reflected a minority of pharmacists.

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	C+D launched the survey last month in the run-up to the C+D Senate, which will meet on August 22 to debate professionalism, covering issues around pharmacy's reputation and the importance of maintaining professional standards.

Respondents also called for better PR to highlight pharmacy's role in the wider healthcare sector and the services it could offer. Several suggested TV advertising or media appearances could boost pharmacy's profile. "There are GPs on TV but rarely pharmacists, either in dramas or in help slots on programmes such as This Morning," one reader commented.

There were also calls for pharmacy bodies to "get out there" and better promote the profession.

Professionalism was important to most respondents: 82 per cent said it underpinned everything they did. A quarter felt that pharmacists delivered a highly professional service to patients, but 74 per cent believed a minority let the profession down.

Fill in the survey by Monday (August 12) to be in with a chance of winning £100 worth of M&S vouchers.

We want to hear your comments, questions and experiences. Send your views to [email protected] and then follow the debate live on C+D's website on August 22 to find out how the Senators respond to your thoughts.