The GPhC indicated that its Council would consider whether to sanction a formal consultation on the matter, enabling pharmacists to have their say on what they think about the proposal. However at its April meeting, the GPhC Council decided that it could not support such a consultation.
Since then, the PDA has arranged a series of meetings for pharmacists to discuss this development and to allow them to air their views.
PDA Chairman Mark Koziol said;
“We have taken the GPhC’s proposal directly to members and we’ve already held a number of meetings in England, Scotland and Wales. We are struck by the genuine indignation and frustration felt by pharmacists and also about the way that the GPhC have thus far handled this issue.
It is clear from their reaction that they believe that P medicines currently prohibited from open display under stricter conditions than GSL products is an iconic and an important cornerstone of pharmacy practice. It provides pharmacists with a risk management tool to improve patient safety by assisting with the prevention of a wide range of problems associated with inappropriate use of these more potent medicines.”
He continued;
“Pharmacists simply cannot understand how such a massive change in practice can be proposed by the GPhC without providing coal face practitioners the opportunity to register their views and despite very serious reservations being formally expressed by a number of pharmacy organisations.”
Pharmacists that have already attended PDA meetings in their area have been providing many examples of how the current prohibition from open display has contributed to assisting them in bringing about some very beneficial outcomes for patients.
The PDA meetings held in different parts of the UK are continuing throughout the rest of April and May, they will enable the PDA to gauge the depth of feeling and inform a practical plan of action.
The meetings were held in Spring 2013 and have now concluded.