Pharmacists to refuse to take on extra work during planned NHS strikes this winter I can reveal.
“We just can’t do it without extra money. The National Health Service cannot require us to do more and more work for free. It just doesn’t happen,” said Leila Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Multi-Pharmacy Association, which represents over 4,000 companies in England and Wales.
Ambulance workers will go on strike before Christmas and NHS nurses will strike for two days on 15 and 20 December. Future doctors will vote for union action in early January.
Ministers are reportedly planning to hire pharmacists to ease winter pressure on the NHS exacerbated by strikes.
Conservative Party leader Nadhim Zahavi refused to rule out the use of pharmacists, telling Sky News the government has an obligation to ensure a “minimum level of supply security” in healthcare.
“The National Health Service will review all contingency plans to ensure patients receive much-needed care. We must be able to provide patients with a safe level of treatment and support at all times,” he said. Sophie Ridge Sunday.
He urged unions to refrain from calling for inflation or wage hikes, warning that these were not available.
Corresponding TelegraphPharmacists may be allowed to diagnose minor ailments and prescribe antibiotics to reduce demand for other medical services.
Ms Hannbeck said she had not heard of any plans, adding that the government could not introduce them to the industry at the last minute.
She added that without additional funding, pharmacies will not be able to help. “Without support, this can no longer be done on the shoulders of pharmacists.”
Companies in her industry are struggling to keep their doors open, she said. “We buy medicines at a very high price that some pharmacists simply can’t handle – they just don’t have the money to buy medicines and pay the bulk bill. We have problems with personnel, because the cost of living is increasing.
“Electricity bills are going up, everything else is going up. And we keep our doors open during the pandemic. We simply cannot continue to take on more unless someone helps with our expenses. When we are given money, we always say that we are really happy to do our best.
“Community pharmacies are the heart of the community… don’t whine or whine, but that’s enough.”
Janet Morrison, executive director of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiation Committee, said: “Local pharmacy teams have shown time and time again that they have the skills, ambition and reach to help patients and the NHS during times of crisis. But pharmacies are heading into a crisis of their own this winter as years of underfunding, efficiency bottlenecks and staffing problems take their toll.
“Pharmacy teams are in the same position as their healthcare counterparts: exhausted, overworked and struggling to make ends meet. If the government wants pharmacies to take it one step further, it needs to back it up with emergency funding and support.
Torrun Govind, a local pharmacist and president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said pharmacists are able to diagnose minor illnesses, but she doesn’t see how they can make up for the loss of labor during the strikes.
“I definitely don’t do the same job as a nurse in a hospital,” she said. “While I do welcome the fact that local pharmacy teams are playing a bigger role in patient support, I don’t see how that could be related to the NHS strike.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.