Letters

Letter

Pharmacy horizons: diverse careers, infinite opportunities

This reflects my deep commitment to promoting diversity and portfolio careers within the pharmacy profession. With over 11 years of experience in a portfolio career, I have witnessed first-hand the invaluable benefits that diverse career paths bring to our field. Pharmacy is not a monolithi…

Published: 16 May 2024

Letter

Pharmacy in primary care

Community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and even commissioning is a well-established practice. Primary Care, while in its infancy, is developing fast and its value is being noted across the country. It is clear that it will be here to stay. The difference in the type of work is vast, the scope is broa…

Published: 16 May 2024

Letter

Advancing our professional leadership

The profession is evolving, making it increasingly important to develop the leaders of the future. As a sector, we should promote collaboration, innovation and improve access to professional development opportunities. Our scope of practice is broader and we are no longer tied to our traditional sect…

Published: 16 May 2024

Letter

Substance misuse: raising awareness, new referral pathway and developing a new flowchart for sale of codeine-containing medicines in the community pharmacy

Substance misuse is a treatable condition that affects a person’s brain and behaviour, leading to their inability to control their use of illicit drugs and alcohol[1]. Illicit drugs could be illegal (e.g. heroin and cocaine) or legal drugs (e.g. co-codamol and morphine)[2]. Su…

Published: 15 May 2024

Letter

Improving prescription writing, empowering polypharmacy patients and strengthening relationships between GPs and community pharmacies

Improving prescription writing is not merely about ensuring that handwritten prescriptions are legible, but more importantly it is about ensuring that the right quantity, strength, form, and dose/direction of a medication is prescribed for a specific indication. The prescription must also include th…

Published: 15 May 2024

Letter

The benefits of belonging: growing beyond our comfort zones

Belonging to the RPS encourages us to transcend familiar boundaries and engage more deeply within our profession. Shared experiences and solidarity: The COVID-19 pandemic has united us in a collective experience, weaving a thread of solidarity through the diverse tapestry of our society. Reflect…

Published: 14 May 2024

Letter

A royal college — a distraction or our destiny?

Now that voting has opened in the RPS elections, there’s a lot of talk about the potential for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to become a royal college. In principle, I am supportive of such a move, but it has to be implemented in the right way for the right reasons. This cannot just be a “me …

Published: 13 May 2024

Letter

The RPS must become a royal college

I am writing to express my strong belief in the necessity for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) to elevate its status to that of a royal college. This transformation is essential for advancing our profession, ensuring we are equipped to meet the evolving demands, roles and responsibilities, via…

Published: 10 May 2024

Letter

The RPS needs to evolve towards becoming a royal college

It’s good occasionally to step back and take a wider perspective. Where is our profession heading? How well prepared are we to satisfy the present and future needs of our patients? What do you want from your career? How best can you achieve it, and how well supported do you feel? What do you co…

Published: 10 May 2024

Letter

Pharmacists’ working conditions are the building blocks of patient care

Looking after jobs, wages and working environment for pharmacists is my greatest passion and is the building block of the platform that allows us to deliver for our patients. Jobs — we need job security so that we know we can put food on our families’ table – allowing us to always act profe…

Published: 10 May 2024