We hope that this is a positive change for all our members already working in Community Pharmacies Ltd and Day Lewis. Nevertheless we understand that sometimes change can be a concern for those impacted.
While it may be an increasingly common occurrence for changes of pharmacy ownership to happen, 1,294 pharmacies were taken over by a new owner during 2015/16, it can still be a uncertain time for those affected. Pharmacists sometimes discover, often with no meaningful prior warning, that their employer will change. It can mean changes to management or working arrangements and there may be changes or uncertainty about employment contracts.
Employees have some legal protection when the employer changes in these circumstances, but often individual pharmacists will not know what their rights are, or how to challenge management action. This is where the PDAU come in. As an independent trade union, we exist to help our members and have helped members with similar situations in the past. Our team understand the implications for pharmacy and have experts in employment law so we can help with every aspect of such a change. We encourage any of our members impacted by this change to contact us if they have any concerns or questions.
PDAU members are not only affected as employees, but as Responsible Pharmacists, with the statutory duty to secure the safe and effective running of the pharmacy, they must also ensure that practice meets regulatory standards and patient safety is not compromised while maintaining service and adjusting to any changes to procedures, staffing or practices. We’d hope for any changes to be well managed by the new owners and for our members to be properly consulted, informed and involved as Pharmacy professionals.
However if there are concerns we encourage our members to raise the issue, preferably in writing, with a senior governance pharmacist or the Superintendent Pharmacist to make them aware of your concerns. If you believe that your concerns are not being addressed satisfactorily by the company or patient safety remains at risk, then once again PDA should be contacted for advice.
If you are working in a Pharmacy which is subject to this or any other change of ownership please do let us know of any issues or concerns you have and if you know a Pharmacist colleague who is not yet a member of the PDAU, please recommend they join us today.