Pharmacy support staff and the future

[gaby]

I'm just a pharmacy student at the moment but I think the changes may be good. Although like mentioned somewhere earlier the thought of you being responsible for someone else's actions is very scary.

So far we've been told the changes will mean better use of our skills.

but back to the topic of pharmacy support staff, who does this include? Does it include healthcare assistants as well as dispensing technicians?

[Zoggite]

Originally Posted by gaby

pharmacy support staff, who does this include? Does it include healthcare assistants as well as dispensing technicians?

In my opinion, it most certainly does!
Healthcare assistants are the first people patients meet when they walk into the Pharmacy, they are the ones who "filter" the calls to the Phcist, who answer the 'phone, they can help select suitable MUR 'victims', etc...
They are just as invaluable as dispensing technicians!

[Linnear]

Answer the phone?

No wonder your so happy in your work Zog.

You don't do bugger all!

[Zoggite]

Ever heard the expression "WHY HAVE A DOG AND BARK YOURSELF?"

[Linnear]

Originally Posted by Zoggite

Ever heard the expression "WHY HAVE A DOG AND BARK YOURSELF?"

Say it all the time and then get tw*tted by the pharmacy staff!

[gaby]

I've been looking at the RPSGB site and technicians can voluntarily register but the society is looking to make this mandatory. Do you know when this change is planned to to take place?

What do you think the future of the pharmacy support staff is?

I personally think they will take over the traditional role of the pharmacist and the pharmacist will become more clinical plus the manager.

[Zoggite]

Originally Posted by gaby

I've been looking at the RPSGB site and technicians can voluntarily register but the society is looking to make this mandatory. Do you know when this change is planned to to take place?

What do you think the future of the pharmacy support staff is?

I personally think they will take over the traditional role of the pharmacist and the pharmacist will become more clinical plus the manager.

I'd tend to agree with that statement, but I'd go even further:why should the pharmacist still retain any Managerial functions? Surely these can be more adequately performed by a "purpose-built" manager, why should it take a pharmacist to take responsibility of areas such as staff recruitment and retention, health and safety in the workplace, shop stock control and loss prevention, keeping tabs on staff's holiday entitlement etc...?

[admin]

Originally Posted by gaby

I've been looking at the RPSGB site and technicians can voluntarily register but the society is looking to make this mandatory. Do you know when this change is planned to to take place?

What do you think the future of the pharmacy support staff is?

I personally think they will take over the traditional role of the pharmacist and the pharmacist will become more clinical plus the manager.

I tend to think it will put us all on the dole!

[mm45]

Can i ask peoples opinon on ACT? I think it could take alot of pressure off pharmacists but then again if people start doing our jobs what will we be doing???

[Linnear]

Definitely a two edged sword:

Handy to have if busy but I'm thinking that they may be the first step to getting one pharmacist overseeing five pharmacies by CCTV.