Insight Online – December 2021 | The Pharmacists' Defence Association

In this issue:

The importance of differentiating professional and technical aspects of pharmacy
PDA help save student member over £50k in potential loss of salary
The workforce impact of pharmacists working in primary care
PDA releases social media guidance for members
Calling all pharmacists to help with the Covid-19 vaccination booster programme
Health Campaigns Together December Bulletin
Latest News
Enjoy a range of PDA Plus benefits this Christmas

The importance of differentiating professional and

technical aspects of pharmacy

We want to encourage more debate about the role of pharmacy technicians. This comes after several pharmacists based in GP surgeries wrote to voice their concerns about a muddling of the pharmacy technician’s role and responsibilities in GP practices.

Pharmacy technicians are often friends, family, and fellow employees working together as a team. If skill mix is to work, then it is important that pharmacy technicians have rewarding jobs with career development, job security, respect at work, and a fair reward.

PDA help save student member over £50k

in potential loss of salary

This year, we have supported a record number of student and trainee members with problems they’ve faced during learning and training. This support is offered as part of their free PDA membership.

In a recent Fitness to Practise case, we supported a member with a disability who was treated unfairly by a School of Pharmacy. This resulted in saving the member over £50,000 in lost salary.

Our swift intervention helped avoid a delay in the member registering as a pharmacist and prevented significant additional costs for the member and the pharmacy school.

The workforce impact of pharmacists working in primary care

Last week we shared data regarding the workforce impact of additional pharmacist roles in primary care and to help bust the myth that it has created a shortage.

Pharmacists working in primary care is nothing new, and we are merely witnessing an expansion in this sector and specifically in the role of patient-facing clinical pharmacists based in GP surgery settings.

We believe this should be seen as a positive evolution for pharmacy careers and are disappointed by some parts of the sector who see GP practice as competition for pharmacists.

PDA release social media guidance

As a result of recent cases and concerns raised by members, we have issued new social media guidance on how members can have a presence online but still protect themselves and their professional reputation.

This guidance is to act as a reminder on how to best navigate social media because as with anything, social media does have pitfalls that can lead to fairly serious consequences for members.

PDA members that have a specific query that is not covered in the document, can contact the team on 0121 694 7000 or email enquires@the-pda.org.

Calling all pharmacists to help with the Covid-19 vaccination booster programme

More than 5,000 PDA members are already significantly involved in the delivery of Covid-19 vaccinations, however, some NHS officials have asked us to help identify if there are any additional pharmacists who will consider joining the vaccination effort at this critical time.

Pharmacists who wish to work in the programme as vaccinators need to have training as outlined in the NHS document “Training Recommendations for Covid-19 vaccinators” which can be found here.

Health Campaigns Together December Bulletin

The latest Health Campaigns Together (HCT) monthly bulletin is now available.

HCT is a platform that enables many of the health campaigns that have been formed to work together, share experiences and lessons, as well as collaboratively work on issues of common concern where possible.

To download the December bulletin, please click here.

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

20/12/2021 – Conclusion of 2021 pay negotiations with Boots UK

18/12/2021 – Appeals process for those that sat the registration assessment in November 2021

17/12/2021 – PDA members’ survey opposes removal of requirement for 2-year minimum experience before becoming an IP

17/12/2021 – Should the profession retain the 2-year foundation period before expectation of becoming an IP?

15/12/2021 – LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network Newsletter – December 2021

14/12/2021 – Tragic death of student highlights the need to promote sources of help and guidance

14/12/2021 – LloydsPharmacy pay negotiations begin

13/12/2021 – Ongoing system issues at LloydsPharmacy

11/12/2021 – Diversity and the value of representation in pharmacy

10/12/2021 – PDA supports Pharmacy Declares

09/12/2021 – Outcome of consultation on Boots pay offer

09/12/2021 – Vice-President of the LGBT+ Network discusses discrimination in pharmacy

08/12/2021 – GPhC respond to concerns about the impact of automation and online pharmacy provision on patient safety and pharmacy practice

06/12/2021 – Is Boots up for sale?

05/12/2021 – Support available for men experiencing domestic violence

03/12/2021 – PDA write to GPhC about the impact of automation and online pharmacy provision on patient safety and pharmacy practice

02/12/2021 – PDA Reps Network in Boots host virtual engagement evenings

01/12/2021 – Advice to pharmacy students as lecturers take strike action

Enjoy a range of PDA Plus Benefits this Christmas

As a PDA member, you have access to a wide range of PDA Plus benefits that will save you money on your everyday spending. Whether it’s going to the supermarket to do your Christmas grocery shopping or getting a special gift for a family member or friend, PDA Plus has exclusive offers for you.

If you would like to have a fun festive day out this Christmas, PDA Plus is offering you the chance to have a wonderful experience at Warwick Castle this year for just £14! This offer includes access to daily shows and attractions and is suitable for the whole family.

So what are you waiting for? Log in to your PDA Plus account today and start saving money this Christmas.