NEWS
Joining forces to strengthen independent sector
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and the Independent Pharmacy Federation (IPF) are joining forces to strengthen support and leadership for the independent pharmacy sector.
The announcement is made in the light of recent developments in pharmacy leadership, which include the evolution of Pharmacy Voice and the refocus by the NPA on the needs of independent pharmacies.
When the IPF was established in 2006, the NPA represented national multiples as well as independents.
However, since 2013, full membership of the NPA has been reserved solely for independents, which was a paradigm shift for leadership of the independent sector.
Both organisations are looking forward to working together to maximise the expertise, relationships and networks which have been built up by both organisations over recent years.
The intention is to embed the legacy of the IPF within the NPA, which will continue to pursue a member-focused agenda as the representative voice of independent community pharmacy across the UK.
NPA chairman, Ian Strachan, said,
“We have enjoyed a close relationship with the IPF since our joint launch of the Manifesto for Independent Community Pharmacy in 2013.
This set out a shared vision for the future of the independent sector. It seems a natural development for the IPF to have taken the decision to entrust its legacy to the NPA.
The IPF has done a remarkable job with limited resources. Independents need be in no doubt that the full weight of the NPA - with the capacity possible on the back of a large membership base - is being deployed to help independents to thrive and we look forward to working with Fin McCaul and others in that task.”
Fin McCaul, Chairman and founder member of the IPF added that their ambition has always been about getting independents a better deal, providing them with the support to build their businesses.
NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF
NATIoNAL PLAN FoR ChRoNIC PAIN PRovISIoN
The latest developments in tackling chronic pain suffered by people across Scotland were discussed by a panel of experts and patients at the end of last month, at the University of Dundee.
The Scottish Pain Research Community (SPaRC) annual scientific meeting, is the country’s major gathering of experts in pain management and relief, with patients also playing a key part.
NPA Chairman Ian Strachan
“Since the NPA restricted its membership to independents only, it has been right that we look at how we work closer with them. It has never been the intention of the IPF to compete with the NPA. We enjoyed working with the NPA on the Manifesto for Independents and now is the time to share our ideas and pool our strengths.
“As we join together, I will be working with the NPA to find new ways of reaching out to members, building on the success of our engagement events such as conferences and webinars,” he said.
Sector training differences for technicians
Latest research has shown sector differences between the training of pharmacy technicians across community and hospital settings.
The report was published by GPhC and looks at the quality of the education and training of pharmacy technician in Scotland along with England and Wales.
The report produced by the Centre for Pharmacy Workforce Issues at the University of Manchester, represents the first comprehensive study into the quality of pharmacy technician education and training since it became a fully regulated profession in 2010.
The research shows that the majority of pharmacy technicians were positive about their training experience and the facilities in place to help them complete their qualifications.
However, there were key differences between the training experiences of pharmacy technicians based in community pharmacy versus those based in hospitals, with those who trained in hospital having higher
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agreement levels than those that trained in community with regards to feeling supported by their organisation and colleagues as a trainee. Respondents using a distance provider also rated more highly in overall satisfaction than those using FE colleges.
Commenting at the launch of the report, President of APTUK, Tess Fenn, said, “APTUK welcomes this evidence based comprehensive research into the quality of initial training for pharmacy technicians. We are encouraged that the publication and findings indicate that pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians are satisfied overall with their training.
“This is particularly pleasing as the report acknowledges the complexities and variations within the different models of training and the different work environments. The report provides the profession and the
regulator with valuable data highlighting the differences in the training experience between the two main pharmacy sectors. The executive summary of the findings recognises that this brings challenges to parity in the quality of education and training.
“We are pleased that the report findings will be used within the imminent GPhC review of the initial pharmacy technicians' education standards. APTUK continues to promote and support the need for consistency in the training of pre- registration trainee pharmacy technicians, wherever this is delivered.
“We are committed to supporting the journey towards professional excellence and upholding professionalism in all pharmacy technicians. To realise this we strive to work collaboratively with all those involved in training of the future workforce as pharmacy practice continues to evolve.”
“Chronic pain is common to many major diseases and conditions and affects hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland,” said Dr Lesley Colvin, Consultant/Reader in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and Acting Chair of SPaRC’s Chronic Pain Research group.
“There is a great deal of research being carried out as to how we can better manage pain for patients but just as importantly, and a crucial feature of what is happening in Scotland, we now have the mechanisms in place that mean we can apply the results of that research effectively for the benefit of patients.
“Our meeting looked at a wide range of issues around the causes and treatment of pain, from what is being done at the molecular level aiming to discover new drugs to manage pain, to wider population- based studies relating to prescribing patterns across Scotland.”
Among the keynote speakers at the event were Paul Cameron, National Chronic Pain Co-Ordinator for the Scottish Government, and Professor Rolf-Detlef Treede, Chair of Neurophysiology from the University of Heidelberg.
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