During the meeting, Liz Larkin, PDA Organiser, gave a presentation which demonstrated the scope and opportunity for members to work together, including those areas which can be negotiated locally. She emphasised the importance of becoming a PDA Workplace Rep and how pharmacists in the NHS can have a stronger voice when reps are able to attend local staff side negotiations.
Members in attendance also heard from Paul Day, PDA Director of Communities and Membership, and Paul Moloney, PDA National Officer. They explained how the PDA is part of the Agenda for Change staff side and Social Partnership Forum which enables the PDA to be involved in those national discussions about NHS members’ terms and conditions.
Following this, members had the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session where they could voice their thoughts and ask any questions that they had. During the Q&A it was discussed that those working in GP settings require more structure around pay. Members also highlighted restructuring in ICBs and asked about redundancies. Members with these concerns can access the PDA’s free redundancy guide and are encouraged to contact the PDA Member Support Centre.
Sophia Farooq, a hospital pharmacist and a PDA Rep said, “As a hospital pharmacist it’s great that our issues are being recognized and discussed and will be addressed at national level.”
Jyoti Saini, ICB pharmacist and PDA Rep, “As an PDA NHS Rep I attended the event on Tuesday 4 February. It was really insightful to hear the work that has been undertaken to support NHS staff and understand how this has been put into practice within other areas. The PDA has provided advice to members on how to manage workplace changes in the evolving circumstances of the ICBs.”
Get involved
The PDA offers full training and support for PDA NHS Reps and currently has over 40 reps in the NHS around the four UK nations. PDA members wishing to become a PDA NHS Rep can email [email protected] and can learn more about the role by clicking here.
Learn more
- PDA Union joins NHS National Staff side and Joint National Council
- PDA redundancy guide launched following events to support members
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.