pharmacists

[Tony Schofield]

That is for joining the register not for completion of NVQ 3. However I was unaware of it so thank you.

There is nothing to refer to satisfactory working in that declaration. It is about the honesty and integrity of the individual.

[DavidS]

I'd be surprised if one staff member's errors really were enough to push a pharmacist into resigning from his position... There's probably a lot more to it than your colleague's repeated errors: pressure from management to achieve targets (MURs, script figures, etc...); lack of rewards (financial or otherwise), working atmosphere, travelling distance, lack of working hours flexibility, career options,...
I agree with Web Ferret: you shouldn't say anything to your colleague, it's not your place, and it would only poison the atmosphere...

Til recently I've been doing three days a week as a locum with a company who have rejigged their staffing, and now, with a new untrained member of staff who is difficult to work with, the error rate has soared. No concession has been made by management to the fact she hasn't worked in a shop before, let alone a dispensary. The experienced technicians are trying to carry her but are worried about the possible fall-out. I decided that, as I was working half the week, I might be held partly responsible for systemic errors, so I have cut my bookings at that branch to the days when that particular staff member doesn't work, and the remaining one or two days a week is, I think, a sufficiently less percentage of the week so that I am protecting myself as best as I can.

Surely we all know dispensaries that we wouldn't go back to? Is there any problem with creating a dispensary review list, which might be a really good way of getting some of these problems resolved. I don't want to take a booking at Michelle's current branch, do you? Last week I worked in a sauna doubling as a dispensary, which was short-staffed, and where one assistant left in tears at lunchtime, saying she couldn't cope any more. We did over 700 items with an untrained counter assistant taking the flac while a dispensing assistant imported from a nearby branch and I tried to cope. It was an emergency booking, and I was well-paid, but I won't be going back there.

[Rafael]

"I have taken this up with the RPSGB and I will keep you informed."

any updates?

[howe928]

Pharmacy is like the high maintainance wife who takes and takes, in the end you throw money at her to make sure she bugs you as little as possible while you miserablly try to fill the void with floozies.

I tell the society I am stressed, I will make mistakes,I am not getting breaks, I work too long a day, I have targets and if I dont reach them im out of a job, I need support,.... im still waiting..... and the measures they are taking are throwing the problem right back at me.... Its classic management avoidance of a problem technique (refer to Dilbert) . Times have changed community pharmacy is quick, straightforward and to the point responses should be likewise but they are not. I suspect therefore the masses think, '' Why should I bother with pharmacy when it does not bother with me?''

work place pressure campaign joined? will GPhC take matters into their hands?

I'd be surprised if one staff member's errors really were enough to push a pharmacist into resigning from his position... There's probably a lot more to it than your colleague's repeated errors: pressure from management to achieve targets (MURs, script figures, etc...); lack of rewards (financial or otherwise), working atmosphere, travelling distance, lack of working hours flexibility, career options,...
I agree with Web Ferret: you shouldn't say anything to your colleague, it's not your place, and it would only poison the atmosphere...

agreed

"I have taken this up with the RPSGB and I will keep you informed."

any updates?

must have chucked it in the bin or lost in the post

On members of staff making errors - I try to be open about it - we all make errors and everyone checks everyone else. As we learn which errors we make we work to our strengths when busy and concentrate on our weaknesses when slack.

I also note errors/near misses on the patients notes - in order to avoid repetition. e.g. the patient who has loperamide TABLETS because they can't absorb the gelatine. (I also tend to ask the surgery to highlight oddball stuff like that on scripts and also dose/quantity changes to avoid errors induced from just repeating old labels) - it's very much a team approach and the local surgery is part of the team.

Jeff

good phrase and ideas

I decided that, as I was working half the week, I might be held partly responsible for systemic errors, so I have cut my bookings at that branch to the days when that particular staff member doesn't work, and the remaining one or two days a week is, I think, a sufficiently less percentage of the week so that I am protecting myself as best as I can.

Surely we all know dispensaries that we wouldn't go back to? Is there any problem with creating a dispensary review list, which might be a really good way of getting some of these problems resolved.

Ah, did not know that, is that true?

'Dispensary review list'? sounds good but what is this? are you thinking what i am thinking?