The PDA has a longstanding objective of seeing pharmacists being able to practice with professional fulfilment by making the best use of their clinical skills. With the vast majority of 3,500 pharmacists telling the PDA in a recent survey that they thought the principle of PFS was a good idea, it is a scheme that deserves to succeed. However, many pharmacists will remember the profit motivated pressures that were applied by certain employers for the Medicines Use Review (MUR) service, which became controversial and was ultimately decommissioned.
The Pharmacy First Service in England has been hastily launched, upon an already over-stretched workforce, causing considerable stress to the patient facing pharmacists. Although only two days old, the PDA has already seen some evidence of pressure to drive commercial imperatives being placed upon pharmacists.
Some businesses are telling pharmacists who are delivering PFS that link selling pain relief preparations to patients is key. This may indicate a lack of concern for the patients’ best interests and could be in breach of the regulatory standards for pharmacy employers.
Whilst some employers have taken a sensible stance by advising pharmacists that they should not sign the competency declarations unless they are content to do so, others have told locums that they will lose their future bookings if they do not sign a competency declaration. With issues around the availability of training and the NHS software only coming online on the day of PFS launch meaning no opportunities to train on the new systems ahead of live encounters with an expectant public, many pharmacists quite rightly believe it would be improper to do so.
The PDA has been in dialogue with the GPhC about these concerns and the regulator has written to pharmacy businesses to remind them of the relevant standards and guidance they should follow to safely providing a wider range of services in community pharmacy. The PDA believes that this is unlikely to stop some of the poor business behaviours.
To help ensure PFS is not irreparably damaged in a similar way to the MUR scheme, the PDA is calling on its members to submit any materials showing inappropriate commercially motivated behaviour, which may not be in the patient’s best interests. The evidence will be used to engage with the relevant stakeholders.
Sharing such evidence amongst other pharmacists via social media groups raises some awareness, however, meaningful action is needed to influence what is happening. The PDA has more than 37,000 members and is the only pharmacy organisation with the resources and track record to effectively champion the concerns of employed and locum pharmacists. It is determined to ensure that this time, the MUR experience is not repeated.
PDA members who have evidence of business behaviours such as that which potentially breaches regulatory guidance and standards can submit it in confidence to PharmacyFirst@the-pda.org
Learn more
- PDA is concerned about PFS impact on pharmacy workforce
- PDA reiterates advice to members as Pharmacy First Service prepares to go live
- Frontline pharmacists’ concerns about Pharmacy First implementation shared with DHSC and NHS England officials
- PDA members can contact their local MP about their concerns
- PDA advice to Responsible Pharmacists about managing the PFS workload
- PDA welcomes announcement of PFS if implemented appropriately
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