Terms and Conditions Committee There is still a lack of AfC data coming through to GHP so it is impossible to give a proper picture of outcomes across the UK.
It was noted that Dave Scott is leaving and there was discussion on how it might be possible to continue collecting the pharmacy vacancy data he has been collating over the past number of years.
Unsocial Hours Dave Thornton reported a meeting at the beginning of April to discuss a response to the proposal on the table. Standard hours are 37.5 per week. Unsocial hours are any part of that 37.5 hours worked at weekends, on public holidays or between 8pm and 6am on weekdays. Anything above the 37.5 hours is overtime. Any work done whilst on-call is paid as on-call. The target date is still October 07 for implementation and, although it is unlikely to be realised, no-one is saying publicly that it is not going to happen.
The payments are paid on basic pay + long term RRP and is not capped. All other elements of pay, including EDA, are excluded. The rates are 30% for Saturdays and weekdays and 60% for Sundays and public holidays. There is therefore no incentive to work public holidays. The proposal has been primarily driven by nursing and midwifery staff who do benefit from it. The proposal was dry-tested on two sites but the data is very incomplete.
From a trawl around the country, it is reckoned that, apart from public holidays which are a definite problem, this will not affect pharmacy too much. Whereas previously someone would get double time + TOIL equating to about £120, they will now get about £25. Pathology staff will be badly affected and they are wanting a separate ballot to allow them to reject the proposal.
On-call At the same meeting, on-call was raised. Nothing is happening with this at all. Dave Thornton had pointed out that this was a major problem for pharmacists. We will be arguing for the implementation date of October 2008 for on-call to be postponed as there is no chance of meeting it. It was suggested that, as the on-call payments take no account of activity, systems could be changed so that there were several people on-call at the same time. e.g. a 1 in 9 rota could become a 1 in 3, with a three tier system and three people on-call.
Equal Pay Claims It was noted that there are about 22,000 equal pay claims in the pipeline, mostly from local government.
Working Time Directive Apparently answering telephone calls out-of-hours does not count as work unless you have to consult a book or computer. Work does, though, include voluntary work and courses etc. It was noted that covering out-of hours for a week at a time is not compliant with the directive if the staff member is required to work the weekend before or after the week and this results in a 7 day working week.
Changes in Pharmacy Regulation There were discussions on this and a joint meeting with UKCPA was arranged to discuss areas of mutual agreement before the start of the Annual National Conference. It was a useful meeting to pool information. There have been a number of meetings on this topic. GHP have been to some; UKCPA have been to some and both have attended others. It was agreed that GHP would probably have to change as much as everyone else in the new regulatory world. It will almost certainly irrevocably change the way GHP works, but we are very positive about the changes as was demonstrated by the President’s opening address at the conference (see below). Under EC law, membership of a Royal College has to be voluntary. Therefore, the organisation has to be member focussed to attract members. It was agreed we need clarity on what the GPC will regulate and for what it is responsible. We also need to work out what we would want out of the “body akin to a Royal College” (BARC).
Under EC law, membership of a Royal College has to be voluntary. Therefore, the organisation has to be member focussed to attract members. It was agreed we need clarity on what the GPC will regulate and for what it is responsible. We also need to work out what we would want out of the “body akin to a Royal College” (BARC).
Section 64 There have been discussions with Kevin Coyne on this and it was noted that RPSGB are making their own moves on this. It was also noted that if you are working in a registered pharmacy, any dispensing errors should be reported to RPSGB. It was recognised that although sections 64 and 65 of the Medicines Act are reserved matters, Section 109 on enforcement is a devolved matter.
International Committee EAHP: Arnold Vulto has resigned from EAHP Board. Tony West and Bob McArtney are starting to look at the EAHP constitution with a view to overhauling it. An Appointments/ Nominations Committee is to be set up and its members will be drawn from countries without a member on the Board. It was noted that there were 3 vacancies out of 7 on the Board. Two members were up for re-election and Jacqueline Surugue is in her last year as President.
Open Council Meeting A minutes silence was observed in memory of David Samways who passed away recently.
Practice Committee It is hoped that by the end of the year we will have a booklet of all GHP policy statements which can be given to members. NHS Injectable Medicines Guide: UKMI and the Hammersmith group have worked up a business case for this. There is a lot of support for it but not enough money. Accountable Officer for CDs : This was introduced on 1st January in England and 1st March in Scotland. The guidance was updated and on the DH website on 1st January. Medicines in Secondary Care : This guidance should be out soon. It is 80 pages long and will be badged by RPSGB and Dept. of Health. Responsible Pharmacist : There were reports from the Cardiff and London meetings. There are potentially problems out of hours and for weekend services. Jeanette Howe is to be asked what help she needs to work through the hospital pharmacy problems.
Annual National Conference 2007 Opening Address The President, Anthony Oxley, opened the Conference and told the delegates "Clearly these are exciting times for pharmacy with the proposed changes to the regulatory structure of the profession, and the Guild and UKCPA are working, both separately and together, to influence the emerging structures. For many years we have felt that representation from the Society has been less than optimal and we now have a once in a generation opportunity to design structures which are fit for purpose. Both the Guild and UKCPA are up to this challenge and aim to be positive agents of change rather than obstacles to be overcome. We welcome the ‘blank sheet of paper’ approach to these developments but, as bodies with a clear vision of the future, we look to see certain outcomes which we feel will ensure the interests of our members, the profession and the public are enhanced."
Colin Rodden 30 April 2007