In this issue:

High court legal victory strengthens health and safety rights for locum pharmacists
Personal Protective Equipment update
Another success for pharmacists at Lloydspharmacy
Community pharmacists: last chance to share your experience of working during COVID-19
Find out how you could win a luxury Christmas hamper
Becoming a provisionally registered pharmacist
PDA Reps join in activities during Young Workers Month
Latest News
Make the most of additional Black Friday savings with PDA Plus

High court legal victory strengthens health and safety rights for locum pharmacists

The PDA welcomes the High Court judgment secured by Independent Worker Union of Great Britain (IWGB), in support of its members, which extends health and safety rights to self-employed workers.

The PDA has heard shocking stories of pharmacies failing to protect locum pharmacists by not providing PPE in the early part of the pandemic. In such cases, the PDA employment team had to advise members to make protected disclosures (whistle-blow) in order to have their concerns addressed and in some cases the union raised the issues directly with the Superintendent to highlight the health and safety risks.

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Personal Protective Equipment update

Guidance regarding PPE has been available from many sources during the pandemic, some of which was conflicting and inconsistent. Back in April, the PDA provided a pragmatic approach to the use of PPE and other measures aimed at optimising safety for patients, customers and staff. Now that official UK guidance has changed, we are providing an update.

Earlier this year, we studied guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), UK Government, Public Health England (PHE), The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and spoken with colleagues in Europe, to provide a pragmatic approach to the use of PPE and other measures (learn more). Click below for an update.

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Another success for pharmacists at Lloydspharmacy

Pharmacists at Lloyds are even closer to securing an independent voice at work through their trade union, the PDA Union. This will give them the legal right to negotiate better pay, hours and holiday as well as having a voice on other matters at work, including important Health & Safety issues. The proposal was that those included should be:All UK General Pharmaceutical Council or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland registered pharmacists or pre-registration pharmacists employed within LloydsPharmacy Limited (excluding those with area management status and those of equivalent or more senior status)

The company attempted to reject this proposal, forcing the decision to be made by an independent CAC panel after considering legal submissions at a hearing. In another successful step for pharmacists, the CAC agreed in full, to the proposal made by PDA Union and rejected the company’s alternative.

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Community pharmacists: last chance to share your experience of working during COVID-19

The PDA urgently invites all community pharmacists to participate in a survey which looks at how pharmacists’ knowledge about COVID-19, attitude to managing COVID-19 and practice has changed as a result of providing community pharmacy services during the pandemic.

Find out how you could win a luxury Christmas hamper

If you’re a pharmacy student, pre-reg, prov-reg or pharmacist, we are giving you the chance to win a luxury Christmas hamper worth £100!*

To enter our Christmas Social Media Competition, you must study or work in pharmacy. Simply follow us on one or more of our social media platforms for your chance to win!

Becoming a provisionally registered pharmacist

In our latest member voice article, Jonny Blatchford, a provisionally registered pharmacist, gives an insight into his pharmacy journey so far; discussing what led him to study pharmacy and his hopes for the future. Find out how he found his pre-reg year and what advice he has for future cohorts.

PDA Reps join in activities during Young Workers Month

November is Young Workers Month, which each year provides an opportunity for union reps, activists and campaigners to reach out and inform young workers about trade unions.

Organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the aim of Young Workers Month is to ensure that there are sufficient opportunities for young people (those under 27 years of age) to join a union, to get involved and play an active role in shaping the trade union movement and their careers.

Below is a summary of some of the other key news stories that have been published on the PDA website recently:

22/11/20 – Pharmacists reminded that home working during the year qualifies for tax relief

20/11/20 – BAME Network elections 2020

19/11/20 – PDA urge the GPhC to ensure there is a fair assessment process

19/11/20 – PDA inspire new ophthalmic trade union

18/11/20 – PDA calls on employers to support prov-reg pharmacists with the study and revision leave they need

18/11/20 – Ability Newsletter – November 2020

17/11/20 – PDA supports campaign to protect all Retail Workers from Abuse, Threats and Violence

11/11/20 – Pharmacists’ union the PDA affiliates to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions

09/11/20 – GPhC launches consultation on Fitness to Practise strategy

06/11/20 – Pay and bonus update at Boots

05/11/20 – Student e-newsletter – November 2020

01/11/20 – PDA Union Statement on day salaries should have increased at Boots

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Make the most of additional Black Friday savings with PDA Plus

As we approach the Black Friday weekend, why not save even more on your shopping by taking advantage of your PDA Plus member benefits. Being a PDA member gives you unlimited access to the many PDA Plus discounts on offer on a range of retailers from fashion and home, to DIY and electronics, PDA Plus has a deal that could save you money.

So what are you waiting for? Log in to your PDA Plus account today and start saving money.

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