Ten Reasons to Love Your Pharmacist.

Some brief notes and thoughts for an article I am compiling for a writer I have been asked to help by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain:

1.

Pharmacists are experts in medicines.

Nowadays they have studied for 5 years - 4 years at University to obtain an M.Pharm plus one year pre-registration in community, hospital etc to obtain practical experience followed by an exam before being able to register with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and use the protected title “pharmacist”. The aspiring pharmacist has studied pharmacology, chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutics, pharmacy law, pharmacology, anatomy, biochemistry, kinetics, business practice etc. He/she has studied drug use, chemical effects, composition, and the biological and physical effects of drugs.

The job has changed over the years with far more sophisticated medicines now available. We used to give plenty of over the counter advice but the range of treatment has extended greatly. No longer, do you get the corked polished bottle containing the medicine made in the pharmacy wrapped in white demy and sealed with wax but now most preparations are made by the manufacturer under strictly controlled conditions and handed out in a paper dispensing bag with specific written instructions on how to treat your medicines. Years ago I had to make the medicine from scratch including suppositories, ointments etc. There is now more emphasis on expert knowledge and drug information. We used to write our labels out - now of course they are printed on a computer with things like the expiry date.

When I qualified, drug addiction was in its infancy. I had one patient to supervise at the All night pharmacy of Boots in Manchester. Now there are hundreds!

2.

I believe the responsibility to be a professional pharmacist has improved substantially and pharmacists are now far more integrated into the primary care team and respected by other healthcare professionals such as nurses, dentists, dieticians etc as such. The influence of the tyrannical domineering doctor has been reduced and pharmacists are on an equal footing than they have ever been.

Pharmacist’s main concern is to ensure treatment is safe and effective. In the dispensary medicine on prescription are reviewed (in fact an increasing number of pharmacists are getting qualified as supplementary prescribers), to ensure the medicine is appropriate, the dosage is correct and that side effects are minimal. It is the pharmacist’s responsibility to ensure patient information is communicated effectively in everyday language appropriate to the individual customer.

3.

Pharmacists are easily accessible. Pharmacies are open at least six days a week with a pharmacist available for advice. I remember doing a seven day week during the holiday season, being on duty for much of that time from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. but those days are gone! I never did find another pharmacist to share the hours. It is surprising how many visitors to the Isle of Man forgot their prescription medicines - asthma, heart tablets etc and needed emergency supplies.

4.

It is important to perhaps patronise the one pharmacy to ensure all your healthcare information, which is stored confidentially on the pharmacy computer, is available. Being on first name terms with the pharmacist can be very beneficial for good advice, preventative health care, and drug information.

Pharmacists are trusted professionals and if used properly play a significant role in disease prevention and health promotion

5.

There has been a great shift over the years in that the profession has been feminised. Women have brought their own special gifts to the pharmacy and do concentrate on professional matters. Men appear to be more entrepreneurial. Both men and women pharmacists must be good listeners and caring.

6.

Many pharmacies provide a home delivery service to elderly patients and to nursing/residential homes. Of course, nowadays many medicines can be purchased over the internet and provided these e-pharmacies are approved by the RPSGB, there is no reason why they cannot complement the traditional pharmacy.

7.

Pharmacies are a great resource. Ask your pharmacist about self-help groups for particular health conditions. Ask about local services such as osteopaths, chiropody, continence nursing, disability aids, child resistant containers, easy to open containers, storage of medicines, the meaning of expiry dates etc. Even matters such as sexual health, pregnancy testing, drug syringe schemes for perhaps a family member.

8

Pharmacy is not just about drugs. It is about caring - putting something back into the community. Pharmacists go into nursing and residential homes giving advice to the elderly on retirement, nutrition, fitness. I, in fact, as a Licensed Lay Reader in the Church of England conduct church services in residential homes and provide pastoral care and health advice over coffee to those whom I have got to know over the years. I find this vocationally very rewarding.

9.

Pharmacists provide advice not only on prescription medicines but also over the counter medicines. This advice can be on a whole range of everyday products - slimming aids, men’s health, health and beauty, sexual health, holiday medicines, vaccinations, foreign travel, allergies, skin care, winter remedies,, photography, diet, stress, alcohol abuse, home health care etc.

10.

The pharmacist’ advice is cost effective. Diagnostic testing can take place confidentially for diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure. Ask the pharmacist for a consultation in a special quiet area/room in the pharmacy.

p.s.

And if you don't love your pharmacist.......

A nice, calm and respectable lady went into the pharmacy, right up to the

pharmacist, looked straight into his eyes, and said, "I would like to buy some cyanide."

The pharmacist asked, Why in the world do you need cyanide?"

The lady replied, "I need it to poison my husband."

The pharmacist's eyes got big and he exclaimed, "Lord have mercy! I can't give you cyanide to kill your husband! That's against the law! I'll lose my licence! They'll throw both of us in jail! All kinds of bad things will happen. Absolutely not! You CANNOT have any cyanide!"

The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her husband in bed with the pharmacist's wife.

The pharmacist looked at the picture and replied, "Well now. That's different. You didn't tell me you had a prescription."