Supermarket Pharmacies

[Ap0thecary]

The following thread may be based upon assumptions, opinions and anecdotal evidence however:

I have recently been hearing on numerous occasions that supermarket pharmacies are not actual pharmacies; and they are just an addition on to the healthy business achieved from the other departments. Augmented pocket money if you like. Of course they are registered etc but people do not see them as “proper.” How does one define proper?

One of the main reasons for their existence was because; since the perpetual opening hours of supermarkets (usually 24 hours), complementing the 100 hour exemption stipulation, they sporadically proliferated into abundance.

One personal experience I distinctly remember is a manager stating to me, “You should have sold that co-codamol, [it would have been] another sale!” Unsuitability namely geriatric population and co-morbidity of existing constipation hindered the sale.

I am sure we can add to these stories from any pharmacy, but I have a stereotypical notion of supermarket pharmacies as being the place where you pick your Rx if you were just passing or buying groceries (etc) anyway.

Prove me wrong people…

[johnep]

Apparently having a pharmacy improves footfall by 1-2%. More than enough to justify.
johnep

[Ap0thecary]

So it is a case of augmented pocket money

[sparkybw]

I suppose if you see one million pound turnover a year as pocket money... then I only wish that my parents were as generous!

[Ap0thecary]

Pharmaceuticals is always going to involve substantial amounts of money, hence we can see why the pharmacy in a supermarket will bring in a good sum comparative to the frozen department for example. Relative and comparative to the whole store, an extra million being healthy is not significant to the whole turn over pertaining to the whole store.

Without digressing, do the supermarkets maintain clinical services eg 400 MURs pa etc

[Asterix]

Pharmaceuticals is always going to involve substantial amounts of money, hence we can see why the pharmacy in a supermarket will bring in a good sum comparative to the frozen department for example. Relative and comparative to the whole store, an extra million being healthy is not significant to the whole turn over pertaining to the whole store.

Without digressing, do the supermarkets maintain clinical services eg 400 MURs pa etc

I would quite to know this too, I always hear supermarkets have a really good deal for pharmacist though. Asda for example.

[hibernia]

The big supermarkets want to be a 'one-stop shop.' They used to sell groceries, now they sell clothes and electrical goods, they have in-store cafes and even sell insurance. There is no reason for you to go anywhere else and they can't bear the thought that you might buy a newspaper or a bag of crips from another retailer. They want 100% of the customer spend.
That is why they 'have' to have a pharmacy.

[andrew paxton]

muRs, N\MS

Pharmaceuticals is always going to involve substantial amounts of money, hence we can see why the pharmacy in a supermarket will bring in a good sum comparative to the frozen department for example. Relative and comparative to the whole store, an extra million being healthy is not significant to the whole turn over pertaining to the whole store.

Without digressing, do the supermarkets maintain clinical services eg 400 MURs pa etc

Generally, yes. Although they form only a tiny part of their turnover, they still want to make as much money as possible from the pharmacy. MURs, NMS, EHC, supervised Methadone etc all add to the bottom line, and they are all encouraged by the management. I was the first manager of our local Asda pharmacy, when it was Moss's. When after I sold my own business I returned to locuming, I called in to Asda, and was told that my unwillingness to do EHC virtually precluded my being employed there, as I should be a Pharmacist first, and keep my religious beliefs for Sundays! For locums, the hourly rate is poor, and the mileage is an insult.

[Asterix]

muRs, N\MS
Generally, yes. Although they form only a tiny part of their turnover, they still want to make as much money as possible from the pharmacy. MURs, NMS, EHC, supervised Methadone etc all add to the bottom line, and they are all encouraged by the management. I was the first manager of our local Asda pharmacy, when it was Moss's. When after I sold my own business I returned to locuming, I called in to Asda, and was told that my unwillingness to do EHC virtually precluded my being employed there, as I should be a Pharmacist first, and keep my religious beliefs for Sundays! For locums, the hourly rate is poor, and the mileage is an insult.

when do you feel pre-regs should start applying for jobs in asda (post pre-reg). I applied for one earlier on a few weeks back, got rejected as my initial assessment was not liked! hence my cv wasn't even read!

[johnep]

Well the supt of Asda is a regular poster. Certainly my dealings with him in the past were good.
johnep