Workplace pressure
At last the RPSGB have realised that pharmacists are under increasing stress at work. As with the proverbial ostrich, the society have had their heads in the sand about this for years but should be applauded for doing something about it, at last.
Your Society Update February 2009
http://www.rpsgb.org/pdfs/YourSociety0902.pdf
The cynic in me (and there is a large cynical element to my character) might say that there is a direct link to the fact that we will soon have a choice about whether we want to join the society, or whatever it will be called in future, and the fact that they are addressing very real concerns for pharmacists at last. Whatever the motivation behind the move, it is most welcome.
Putting my cynisism aside, I think that something needs to be done quickly to address the issue. The credit crunch has put increasing financial pressure on most businesses and in particular the larger businesses. They seem to doing everything they can to cut costs including running what are usually two pharmacist branches on one pharmacist which means that the pharmacists on duty is under enormous pressure. This isn’t fair on the staff in the branch or the customers who have to wait for ages for their medication. Most of all it isn’t fair on the poor pharmacists who is left to cope with the massive workload while all the time being scared of making a mistake which could potentially ruin their career.
Employee pharmacists feel obliged to work in these conditions as they are paid a wage at the end of the month and their immediate line manegers are being pressurised to reduce costs by non-pharmacists further up the food chain. In many cases these line managers know what pressure the pharmacists are under because they have been there themselves in the past. Locums are increasingly shunning particular branches where they know workloads are increasingly challenging.
This can’t be good and I feel the time has come for a fundamental change in the relationship between the professional pharmacists and the business of pharmacy
I’ve long advocated a completed different model for pharmacy based on the the way GP’s operate in the UK. Some of you might not know that most GP’s are self-employed. They sign contract for services with their PCT which confirms the services the PCT expect the GP to undertake and the rewards on offer for providing these services. However it allows GP’s greater personal control and professional detachment from the PCT, allowing them to practice their profession as they see fit. This stops political pressure cascading down through PCT’s from affecting the way GP’s practice medicine. For political pressure read political and business pressure and you have the current pharmacy situation.
Something has to change and soon.
The ongoing Responsible Pharmacist Consultation is an ideal opportunity for pharmacists to have their say in the future of pharmacy. I’d urge you all to contribute to the consultation.
Responsible Pharmacist Consultation
http://www.rpsgb.org/protectingthepublic/ethics/#rp
Shaun Hockey B Pharm(Hons) MRPharmS
Managing Director PL-UK
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