In case people don't know, Pharmacy is facing many obstacles. It isn't just diminished funding or ongoing stock shortages, but more fundamental things that'll affect the profession for years to come.
The bad idea of bad ideas in pharmacy, the profession has been able to successfully resist government efforts to introduce this for the past 10 years.
Fast forward to 2015 and the issue has reared its ugly head again.
Fast forward to 2015 and the issue has reared its ugly head again.
The rationale has always been to allow the pharmacist to leave the workplace and deliver extra services to the public. This rationale is great, if you ignore three little things 1) we have more pharmacists than we did a decade ago 2) if remuneration weren't clawed back, more businesses could hire an extra pharmacist to provide these services 3) the impact to patient safety if the pharmacist were absent.
There's a much better solution. It's really quite simple. More jobs for pharmacists. Much better than a webcam and mic. Safer for patients too. After all, isn't that what it's all about?
There's a much better solution. It's really quite simple. More jobs for pharmacists. Much better than a webcam and mic. Safer for patients too. After all, isn't that what it's all about?
Oh, the hate is strong with this one.
Despite all the arguments and evidence for capping student numbers in pharmacy schools, the government has gone ahead and done the opposite. Even worse, this has been decided in secretive, closed door meetings involving the BIS. The records of these meetings were never taken, the government claims.
As of writing this, the PDA are still pressing for this to be changed.
More corruption. Oh Con-Lib government, I despise you with every fiber of my being.
Last
year the PDA filed a request with the High Court to declare British
employment law incompatible with the European Human Rights convention.
In contrast to the rest of the EU, British law allows non-independent
company unions. As a result, employers like Walgreens Boots Alliance aren't obliged to negotiate with other unions.
The
judge overseeing this seemed ready to go through with it. This would
have been a landmark event as British laws regarding employee rights and
unions would have been rewritten. Sadly, it seems the BIS and Treasury pulled some strings and it was
stopped. For now.
Not European enough
You know, in France they take their time at the dinner table.
Well, apart from eating habits, we should have a look at what Phamacy is like in Western Europe. You won't have a company like Walgreens Boots Alliance, as strict regulations in these countries means only a pharmacist can own a pharmacy and multiples are prohibited.
Well, apart from eating habits, we should have a look at what Phamacy is like in Western Europe. You won't have a company like Walgreens Boots Alliance, as strict regulations in these countries means only a pharmacist can own a pharmacy and multiples are prohibited.
It's not that the UK is any less restrictive. This country has its own specific restrictions, but no ban on owning more than one pharmacy. In contrast to the UK and US, the Western European model prevents a big pharmacy chain/multiple from dominating.
In Western Europe, pharmacists tend to be their own boss, retiring pharmacists only sell to other pharmacists or invite them to form partnerships. Thus, there is a greater sense of commitment and continuity within the profession.
This also begs the question. Why don't more pharmacists in the UK go into partnership?
In Western Europe, pharmacists tend to be their own boss, retiring pharmacists only sell to other pharmacists or invite them to form partnerships. Thus, there is a greater sense of commitment and continuity within the profession.
This also begs the question. Why don't more pharmacists in the UK go into partnership?
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