The PDA is seriously concerned that there appears to be a failure of Community Pharmacy employers to appropriately report instances of exposure to COVID in the workplace. This situation will not only impact on the individuals affected and reduce the ability of the sector to learn in preparation for future pandemics, it may also undermine patient and public confidence in the sector and therefore we have now formally raised these concerns with the regulator
The PDA have been proactively and positively highlighting the HSE guidance and attempting to ensure all employers of pharmacists comply with health and safety reporting requirements throughout the pandemic. However, while employers in other sectors have made reports, community pharmacy employers stand out as those who have collectively failed to report a single instance.
- In April, the PDA welcomed the guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- In May, the PDA raised concerns that it seemed some employers in community pharmacy were not meeting those reporting requirements
- In early July, the PDA highlighted that a parliamentary question had revealed despite reporting happening from employers in other parts of the health system, there had been zero reports from community pharmacy.
- Later in July, the PDA reported results of a survey in which four in ten pharmacists who had caught the coronavirus believed they had been exposed in the workplace.
In the absence of any change of approach by community pharmacy employers and with no indication of any action being taken by the the regulator the PDA has now formally raised their concerns. With a pharmacy in Inverclyde linked to a new coronavirus cluster, the PDA believe it has never been more important to ensure that the RIDDOR reporting takes place.
The letter highlights that:
Confidence in community pharmacy employers properly discharging their duties regarding the health and safety of patients and employees is fundamental. The responsibility lies clearly with employers and the absence of any notifications whatsoever for work acquired COVID infections in the community sector must cast significant doubt on compliance with these strict obligations
All five principles set out in the “Standards for Registered Pharmacies” identify safeguarding “the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public” as the objective; employers and the regulator have no hesitation in holding individuals to account for any failure to comply with legal and professional obligations. It is therefore incumbent on the GPhC to investigate further the unexplained and complete absence of work acquired COVID infection reporting by community pharmacy employers.
You can read the full letter here:
