act in retail pharmacy

[N.T]

Originally Posted by Zoggite

If I was a patient (and not a pharmacist) I think I'd feel safer knowing my prescription has been checked by an experienced ACT rather than by an overworked pharmacist by webcam who's supposed to be supervising up to 3 pharmacies at the same time, which is what could happen in the future if the various articles in the PJ are to be believed...!

Ah...you're assuming the patient knows the difference between an ACT and a pharmacist.

Only 3 A-levels, 4 years at Uni and 1 year pre-reg...you wouldn't believe it!

[Zoggite]

Originally Posted by N.T

Ah...you're assuming the patient knows the difference between an ACT and a pharmacist.

Yeah- the ACT is usually female, and wears a uniform; the pharmacist is usually the bloke in the suit...

[admin]

Originally Posted by Zoggite

Yeah- the ACT is usually female, and wears a uniform; the pharmacist is usually the bloke in the suit...

Ouch - you are a trouble causer Zo!

[kemzero]

Originally Posted by Zoggite

Yeah- the ACT is usually female, and wears a uniform; the pharmacist is usually the bloke in the suit...

Womens lib... where are you?

[Linnear]

Funny, I've never heard a women's libber complain about the lack of women on the bin round or down the sewers!

(There will be a pause between postings as I don my flame retardant underwear!)

[technician3]

hi terri, i have had my nvq3 for 4 years now and about to embark on the act course. i just wanted an idea of what this entails and also find out a bit more about the final assessment.

technician3

[RegPharmTech]

Interesting thread. I'm new to this site.

I have been dispensing for about ten years now, got my NVQIII in 2001 and I am hoping to do the ACT course soon. I am a medicines management technician for a GP practice but I'm missing dispensing so much I have just accepted a job at Lloyds 2 evenings a week to keep my hand in.

In my experience you can achieve good pay in community and primary care if you have an employer who knows the value of a good tech.

[johnep]

Would love to know the details with examples of what you do in medicines management.
johnep

[RegPharmTech]

Originally Posted by johnep

Would love to know the details with examples of what you do in medicines management.
johnep

Oh no, not specifics please! Oh well, a bit of background then. I started working at the practice when it had dispensing status, part of my job was dispensing, the other part was repeat prescribing and medicines management. Last year we relocated to a huge new premises with five other practices and lost our dispensing status so half of my job is gone, LOL!

The sort of stuff I do? Update patient's medication records when they've seen a consultant, repeat prescribing queries, actioning recommendations from PCT/NICE etc. I work closely with the prescribing lead. Dose optimisation. If a pharmacy phones with a query, it tends to be filtered through me and 8/10 times I can handle it saving the doctor some hassle. General trouble shooting when it comes to prescriptions. For example, with the dose inequality issue for Beclometasone cfc free I have searched the database, forwarded recommendations to the GP's for switching the patients over and once they have signed off on it I can change their records and fire a letter off to the patient explaining why the change. I sometimes bounce scripts back to the GP's as we do a quick clinical check when issuing repeats but since some of the clerical staff also do repeat prescribing this isn't done 100% of the time. Considering most practice clerical staff have no clinical training it's a step up from nothing I guess.

Quite a few of the local practices employ technicians to oversee their repeat prescribing. I think it's a good use of technician's training. The pharmacies appreciate having someone readily available to speak to with queries. I'm not a big fan of dispensing practices though, I think it's a bit scary that things are being dispensed without a pharmacist doing a clinical check. I'm not liking the sound of remote checking.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by RegPharmTech

I'm not a big fan of dispensing practices though, I think it's a bit scary that things are being dispensed without a pharmacist doing a clinical check.

I am - it's the career path I recommend to technicians.
I'd prefer to see dispensing practices with pharmacists involved but the political leaders of both groups spent too much energy fighting a turf war instead of seaking common ground.