Insight Online – April 2022 | The Pharmacists' Defence Association

In this issue:

PDA responds to discussions of a locum “blacklist”
Pharmacy compliance with RP regulations is mandatory, not optional
PDA attends CPC to help shape the pharmacy sector
PDA issues advisory information about Paxlovid® antiviral treatment for non-hospitalised patients
Reminder of Bank Holidays in 2022
PDA collaborates on Equal Pay Toolkit
Latest news
Enjoy a range of PDA Plus benefits!
Trainee pharmacists: access a series of FREE webinars
Spotlight On – Lloyd & Whyte

PDA responds to discussions of a locum “blacklist”

We have responded to statements made stating that some pharmacy businesses are talking about “sharing intelligence and collectively blacklisting pharmacists.”

We believe all parties should honour agreements they enter into, including a pharmacy’s commitment to the NHS that it will open at set times to provide pharmaceutical services to patients and the public. This also includes individual pharmacists who have obligations to work at times and rates they have agreed to.

Corporations or individuals that breach contractual arrangements risk penalties for doing so. However, it is an unusual step for a prominent pharmacist to be leading a call to create a sector “blacklist” for locums regarding disputes over rates.

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Pharmacy compliance with RP regulations is mandatory, not optional

We have responded to discussions about compliance with the Responsible Pharmacist (RP) regulations, which underpin patient safety and support high-quality pharmacy services.

Recently there has been considerable talk on social media of pharmacies allegedly being operated outside the Responsible Pharmacist (RP) regulations. This includes unauthorised activity occurring when no RP is signed in.

There have been comments made that some pharmacists and pharmacy team members may fear repercussions from challenging or whistle-blowing about such behaviour. To assist members with the interpretation of the RP regulations, we have made available a legal briefing note about the RP regulations produced by a specialist pharmacy regulation law firm.

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PDA attends CPC to help shape the pharmacy sector

We will be running two sessions at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress (CPC) this year in the hope of sharing knowledge and best practice from across the sector. Our sessions include ‘Managing Risk in General Practice’ and ‘PDA members leading change for an anti-racist pharmacy sector.’

CPC is the largest gathering for the clinical pharmacy profession in the UK. The conference is the opportunity for pharmacists to learn and network with other professionals in the industry as well as take the time to reflect on patient care in over 250 hours of clinical, leadership, strategy and career-boosting content, along with a wealth of inspired and inspiring speakers and over 150 leading exhibitors.

As an official CPC partner, the PDA is able to offer members a complimentary event pass to the conference. PDA members can register for CPC today using the unique code: PDA to waive the £499 + VAT entrance fee.

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PDA issues advisory information about Paxlovid® antiviral treatment for non-hospitalised patients

The NHS is offering antibody and antiviral treatments to people with Covid-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract the virus.

Paxlovid® is one of four anti-viral therapies available for the treatment of the highest risk patients with Covid-19 infection in the community. Pharmacists are playing an integral part in the supply chain. Whether this is as chief pharmacists in hospital trusts dealing with the order and supply of medications and medicines information, trained pharmacist assessors in the Welsh service, or pharmacists dispensing and delivering antivirals in the Scottish service.

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Reminder of Bank Holidays in 2022

Bank holiday entitlement is a topic that is regularly queried, and we are reminding members to ensure they are aware of their own entitlement. This means booking leave and ensuring they get the well-deserved break from work either on the bank holiday itself or at a suitable alternative time.

The term “bank” holiday is used interchangeably with “public” holiday in the UK, and for all practical purposes, there is no difference. These bank/public holidays differ across the UK nations and each year there are usually 8 permanent bank holidays in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland, and 10 in Northern Ireland.

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PDA collaborates on Equal Pay Toolkit

We have worked with leading equality charity, The Equality Trust, alongside other trade unions, academics, and other equality campaigners, to produce an Equal Pay Toolkit.

The toolkit is a practical guide to bargaining for equal pay, designed for union representatives and members to use in their workplaces. It was launched on Wednesday 30 March at an online event, which included a variety of speakers.

Dr Zubaida Haque, Executive Director of The Equality Trust, hosted the event and highlighted that equal pay is not just an individual issue, as it affects the whole society in terms of structural inequality.

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Below is a summary of some of the other key news stories that have been published on our website recently:

25/4/22 – RPS – English Pharmacy Board 2022 candidate responses on key topics

25/4/22 – Royal Pharmaceutical Society – English Pharmacy Board elections 2022

24/4/22 – International Workers’ Memorial Day 2022: Reminding everyone why safety at work is so important

24/4/22 – Responsible Pharmacists and patient safety as pharmacies allow Covid-19 positive staff into work

22/4/22 – Find out what the PDA is doing about supporting the casualties of war in Ukrainian hospitals

20/4/22 – LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network Newsletter – April 2022

19/4/22 – The high pressure and stress of working as a community pharmacist

17/4/22 – PDA to present its first ever motion at STUC Annual Congress

12/4/22 – Stress in the workplace

9/4/22 – An award-winning pharmacy student’s commitment to the profession

7/4/22 – LloydsPharmacy pay negotiations update – April 2022

7/4/22 – PDA supports #Pharmacy24 2022

6/4/22 – PDA launches violence and abuse in community pharmacy workplace survey

1/4/22 – ASDA Pharmacists may be impacted by hours reduction

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Enjoy a range of PDA Plus benefits!

Did you know that as a PDA member, you can take advantage of exclusive PDA Plus offers and discounts that save you money on your everyday spending?

For example, with PDA Plus you can save up to 20% on all full-priced Virgin Experience Days, that’s over 2,500 of them! Virgin Experience Days have something for everyone such as gourmet cooking masterclasses, balloon flights, stadium tours, afternoon tea treats, spa days, or even a family day at the zoo. This deal offers the perfect chance to treat a loved one, or even yourself! Click below to learn more about this offer.

Trainee pharmacists: access a series of FREE webinars

Trainee pharmacists can now access a free webinar series from MORPh Training and MicroPharm. In this free webinar series, trainees will be guided through a range of different topic areas alongside expert speakers to ensure that they are prepared for the GPhC registration assessment. There will be seven, 1 and a half hour sessions, running up to 20 June. These will cover all high weighting topics and the sessions will also feature at least 25 mock examination questions with feedback.

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Welcome to our Spotlight On segment where each month you learn more about our PDA Plus partners and the exclusive offers and services available to members.

Lloyd & Whyte help pharmacists take control of their finances*. Their expertise covers the whole financial planning spectrum.

Are you starting out in your career and looking for advice on how best to protect and manage your income? Or perhaps you are considering your retirement and wanting the most out of your pension? Lloyd & Whyte assist pharmacists to realise their goals and find the right financial solutions to live the life they want. Their Independent Financial Advisers will help you to make informed choices about your money so you can look forward to an exciting future.

Lloyd & Whyte offer you the complete service when it comes to your finances:

Financial Planning
Income Protection
Mortgages
Pensions/ Retirement planning
ISA’s and investment planning
Life Cover
Critical Illness Cover
Private Medical Insurance
Wills

Lloyd & Whyte have instant quotes available online or you can speak to an Independent Financial Adviser by phoning 01823 250750.

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*Lloyd & Whyte (Financial Services) Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. Information within this article is based on our current understanding of taxation and can be subject to change in future. It does not provide individual tailored investment advice and is for guidance only. We cannot assume legal liability for any errors or omissions it might contain. Registered in England No. 02092560. Registered Office: Affinity House, Bindon Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6AA.

Insight Online – April 2022