Mr A.R. Barber’s comments in the PJ (March 7th) regarding locum pharmacists being given targets for MUR’s raised lots of comments in this weeks PJ.
Both locums and contractors disagreed with Mr Barbers assertion that locums are obliged to carry our MUR’s to help the pharmacy/company achieve it’s targets of 400 reviews a year.
Frustrated pharmacist
I completely support the comments made by the respondees but it saddens me that MR Barber seems to have forgotten what he want to University to become. I’m sure he was taught about pharmacy law and ethics and about working as a professional, standing by your convictions even if all around you are asking you to do something else. He seems to have gone over to the “Dark Side” focusing primarily on profit, not care for patients.
I know that as we approach the end of the financial year, multiple operators across the UK will be pressurising employee and locum pharmacists alike to reach the magic 400 MUR figure, but this kind of target setting for professional services can never site comfortably with professionalism. It’s the kind of target that fits much better with supermarket 3 for 2 targets than a professional service, delivered by professional people.
Unfortunately this is only going to get worse as we move into an increasingly multiple dominated world of UK pharmacy,unless pharmacists themselves stand up to be counted. I’ve mentioned before about my concept of an Independent Pharmacist Practitioner (IPP). One that is engaged on a contract for services by the PCT to deliver targeted professional services to a given population. The IPP will then agree to provide these services in the premises of a local contractor but answer to the NHS via the PCT.
This concept will completely split the professional side of pharmacy from the business side. Contractors are left to negotiate the best deals with suppliers to maximise profit and can invest in their premises to allow their IPP to fulfil advanced and enhanced services identified as necessary by the local PCT. Meanwhile pharmacists are left to practice their profession safe in the knowledge that they are independent of the contractor and beholden only to the PCT for professional services.
Let me know that you think.
We’ve had a locum move from the locum poor North of the locum rich South East of England and they can’t understand why they can’t get their head around the fact that locum pharmacists earn more in the North than the South of England.
It’s all down to market forces. It’s a fact that the South and in particular London is flooded with locum pharmacists and where supply outstrips demand prices are always lower. The North of England is the place to be for top locum pharmacist rates so if you live in the south but have family or friends “Up North” why not consider moving up to the North for the summer. The rates are great, the air clear and the roads un-crowded…..it’s great Up North!
We have some fantastic Irish pharmacists who work for us and I just wanted to wish you all a happy St Patrick’s Day and good luck against Wales as you go for the Grand Slam on Saturday
So the Chief Medical Officer thinks we should set a minimum tax level for each unit of alchohol. 50p is his figure. 
In theory I think it’s a good idea but I also understand the argument put forward by the opponents of the plan i.e. that it’s not fair on those of us who drink sensibly and in moderation. After all, we all know the drinks that cause most of the problems.
My suggestion is that we do increase tax levels but only on those drinks we know are consumed for the sole reason of getting off-your-face as quickly as possible i.e. cheap white ciders, super strength lagers and what used to called alchopops. People don’t drink these products because they enjoy the taste. They are bought for the sole purpose of getting drunk as quickly as possible. I would either tax these products to the hilt or even ban them. What about all the jobs that would be lost I hear you cry? Well the same breweries could be used to produce good quality, lower alcohol drinks that people might enjoy. From a business point of view it makes sense; instead of having a product that people only consume from the age of 15-18 why not produce a product that consumers can enjoy all their lives?
Working in a prison service pharmacy I see scripts for newly imprisoned alchoholics every day. I bet if I asked them what they drink it wouldn’t be a nice 1983 Saint Emilion, but the off-you-head-as-quick-as-can products mentioned above.
Cheers!
2009 was always going to be a really important year for PL-UK. It started off well when we found out that we had become approved suppliers to the NHS in January and February saw the launch of this new website.
We continue with the good news in March with the launch of Pharmacy Jobs UK, a specialist website focusing exclusively on UK pharmacy jobs, both locum and permanent.
Pharmacy Jobs UK is a free to use service for locum pharmacists to see our most attractive jobs. We will post all jobs on the site with a duration of more than one day and the site allows pharmacists and technicians to drill down for more information.
It’s early days for the PJUK at the moment but we have already received many enquiries about the jobs posted on the site this week.
Let us know what you think
Agency Workers Regulations – how does it effect me?
The simple answer is it doesn’t. …. in most cases. For more expert guidance than I can supply as a pharmacist rather than a legal bod please click on the link below. http://www.pcg.org.uk/cms/documents/01109%20PCG%20A4%2020PP%20BROCHURE%20SINGLE%20PAGES.pdf
One in a lifetime opportunity – pharmacist required in Tonga
We have been approached by a not for profit pharmacy in the Kingdom of Tonga asking us to recruit a pharmacist to work at one of the health centres in the Kingdom. This opportunity will definately not come up again for if you fancy a complete change of scene and an opportunity to live on [...]
Just a quick post to remind all pharmacist that they need to renew their GPhC registration by the 31st October. So you still have a month to pay but if you are anything like me, if you don’t do it now, there’s a chance you’ll forget!
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