Many pharmacists are now involved in providing a wide range of consultancy services usually to other pharmacists, healthcare practitioners, healthcare organisations or businesses. The consultancy service being offered may not limit itself to purely healthcare issues, but may also deal with aspects of a more business, organisational or commercial nature. In these situations the consultant not only faces a medical malpractice risk but is also exposed to a commercial liability risk, especially if an error or omission results in erroneous advice being given. The Business consultancy scheme provides protection in both respects and is applicable whether the insured is employed, self-employed or working full or part time.
As well as providing the specialist cover described, this scheme takes as its basic foundation the cover provided by the self employed locum scheme (PDAL). As such, any locum work undertaken by a member is automatically covered under this scheme.
Protection is also provided for :
The standard Business Consultant scheme (PDAB) will not provide protection for this activity, unless it has specifically been included as part of the application.
Primary care pharmacy work entails activities that are technically more demanding and requiring additional skills and training. Examples may include drug information, formalised medication review services or the operation of clinics. If a pharmacist is providing these services in a hospital pharmacy setting then the standard protection offered by the Business Consultant scheme will provide cover. However, if these services are undertaken by a pharmacist working as a self-employed consultant in a community pharmacy or a GP's surgery, then a whole new level of potential liability risk is incurred. Protection for Business Consultant Pharmacists involved in providing these more specialist services in community pharmacies, GP surgeries or other such locations will only be provided if they provide a full and comprehensive description of their proposed service at the time of application.
Participation in pharmacist prescribing is not covered, this cover will only be provided by the Primary Care scheme (PDAX)