PDA opens membership to hospital pharmacists

The Pharmacists' Defence Association has attracted more than 10,000 members, in the two years since its launch in September 2003.

To date, membership has been restricted to community employee, primary care and locum pharmacists; however, from 1^st October 2005, hospital pharmacists will also be able to join the association.

"When we launched the PDA, we delayed offering membership to hospital pharmacists because we hoped to work with the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists to deliver a combined service for hospital pharmacists. However, the Guild Executive were not keen to do this," commented Mark Koziol, PDA Director.

During 2004 and 2005, the PDA has developed new services and recruited relevant personnel to ensure that it can service the needs of hospital pharmacists. These preparations have included expanding the staff infrastructure to four pharmacists and two lawyers; and appointing three hospital pharmacists to the PDA Advisory Board.

"We are now in a position to provide exceptionally comprehensive and cost effective Defence Association benefits for all hospital pharmacists," concluded Mr Koziol.

In the last 18 months, the PDA has dealt with more than 1000 incidents on behalf of its members. These included approximately 500 employment disputes, 200 potential claims for compensation, 80 cases of professional disciplinary action from the RPSGB and 50 prosecutions.

In addition, the PDA has successfully claimed more than £150,000 worth of compensation from employers who have treated their pharmacists unfairly or illegally.

Hospital pharmacists can find out more about joining the Pharmacists' Defence Association by visiting www.the-pda.org or by telephoning 0121 694 7000.

ENDS

Note for Editors

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA)

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is a not for profit organisation which aims is to act upon and support the needs of individual pharmacists and, when necessary, to defend their reputation. PDA currently has more than 10,000 members.

The primary aims of the PDA are to;

• Support pharmacists in their legal, practice and employment needs.
• Provide insurance cover to safeguard and defend the reputation of the individual pharmacist.
• Proactively seek to influence the professional, practice and employment agenda to support members.
• Lead and support initiatives designed to improve the knowledge and skills of pharmacists in managing risk and safe practices, so improving patient care.
• Work with like-minded organisations to further improve the membership benefits to individual pharmacists.

Editors requiring further information should contact:

Colin Martin
Public Relations Consultant
32 Woodstock Road
London W4 1UF

Tel: 020 8994 1639
Mob: 07931 560 141
Fax: 020 8747 9185
Email: cmpubrel@aol.com