|
4. |
EMERGENCY DUTY SERVICE |
|
4.1 |
The salary scales contained in Appendix C for staff in posts identified as carrying a requirement to provide an emergency duty service are to be applied from a date on or after 1 October 1986 which is a matter for agreement between health authorities and the individual concerned. Assimilation will be to the corresponding point on the Emergency Duty Service scale representing credit of two additional increments. |
|
4.2 |
The following guidelines on the implementation of the agreement on Emergency Duty Service have been agreed by Management and Staff Sides of the Pharmaceutical Whitley Council committee A. The arrangement for incremental credit for those giving a commitment to undertake emergency duties has been costed on the basis that, overall, no more than half the pharmacy workforce will be needed to operate such a service. It is recognised that the needs will vary from area to area. The scheme is intended to give greater flexibility and freedom to local management in the organisation of emergency duty systems, if they are required, but at the same time allowing staff the opportunity to decide whether or not they wish to take part. While it is not possible to lay down from the centre detailed rules as to how local schemes ought to be organised, the Department expects that management should have regard to the following guidelines when agreeing a scheme with their staff: |
| |
4.2.1 |
the agreement is intended to cover the commitment of pharmacists for professional duties which have to be undertaken outside the pharmacists’ contractual hours and which are of an unforeseeable nature, |
| |
4.2.2. |
it will be up to local management to decide the number of staff needed to provide an emergency duty service, |
| |
4.2.3 |
existing staff should be aware of their commitment with regard to both frequency of duty and extend of call out before being asked to agree to their posts being designated as liable for emergency duties, |
| |
4.2.4 |
vacant posts will be advertised as having or not a commitment for emergency duties. At interview all applicants should have the extent of the commitment explained to them. This commitment should be adequately defined in the job description. |
| |
4.2.5 |
local management should be prepared to review arrangements where the level of commitment changes significantly eg in terms of frequency of duty or number of calls, |
| |
4.2.6 |
where, for personal reasons, staff wish to opt out of a previously agreed arrangement to provide emergency duty cover, every effort should be made to accommodate them, and their salary will revert to the corresponding salary point on the scale for staff not required to provide emergency duty commitment, |
| |
4.2.7 |
incremental credit can only be given to those accepting a commitment for emergency duties, |
| |
4.2.8 |
time off in lieu arrangements for staff called out continue to apply, |
| |
4.2.9 |
emergency duty periods will usually be outside the normal daytime pharmacy opening hours, |
| |
4.2.10 |
emergency duties should not be used to substitute for existing late clinic or special duty arrangements, |
| |
4.2.11 |
it is a matter of professional judgement by the pharmacist as to how he or she responds to a particular request for assistance. |
