The Big Debate

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Grace Lewis
Apr 29, 2021
The Big Debate

Big Debate #4 – Could a hub-and-spoke model ever truly work for independent pharmacies?

Good evening everyone and welcome to our fourth Big Debate. Tonight we’ll be asking whether independent pharmacies can ever truly benefit from a hub-and-spoke dispensing model. It’s been the subject of years of intense debate within the sector, but with the Medicines and Medical Devices bill receiving royal assent in early February – potentially paving the way for all community pharmacies to operate a hub-and-spoke dispensing model, regardless of whether they are part of a chain or an independent – hub-and-spoke looks set towards being rolled out across the sector. So, what is the current legal framework? What can we learn from pharmacies already utilising hub-and-spoke? And how do we ensure that patient safety is at the forefront of any model adopted sector-wide? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below. The debate will formally close at 8pm, but feel free to continue the debate for as long as you like.
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62 responses
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Beth Kennedy
Nov 19, 2020
The Big Debate

The Big Debate #2

Good evening everyone and welcome to our second Big Debate. Tonight we'll be debating whether provisionally-registered pharmacists should still have to take the registration exam.2020 has been a difficult year for pharmacy teams in general - but spare a thought for this year's pre-reg cohort, who've had to endure a particularly intense year in practice as well as months of uncertainty over when the postponed 2020 registration exam will be held. Earlier this year, the GPhC announced it would allow pre-regs who met "certain criteria" temporarily join the register to help out with pharmacy's COVID-19 efforts. However, these "prov-regs" will still have to take the registration exam when it is expected to be sat sometime early next year - despite having been practising for several months.So, should prov-regs still have to sit the registration exam? Do you think it's only fair, given all other recent cohorts have had to sit the exam, or have prov-regs already proven their competency to stay on the register? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below. The debate will formally be closing at 8pm, but feel free to continue the debate for as long as you like.
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36 responses
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david sarabowski
Nov 05, 2020
The Big Debate

2005 Rates.

I returned to practice in April after 15 months retired, and was disgusted to find locum rates lower than when I started doing locum work in 2005. The agency have recently reduced the rates offered again, and have even woken me at 7.30 am and tried to negotiate rates for an urgent booking that day. And why should I only get paid from arrival? If I am woken at 7.30 to get to work ASAP I expect a full days pay as my entire day has gone. If I arrive 15-30 minutes late because I had no notice of the booking that is hardly my fault. And now Sunday and evening work is routine, when I always used to get extra after 6pm. If we refuse to work at these rates and a pharmacy fails to comply with its terms of service as a result, then the CCG's should step in and penalise the companies, thus forcing them to pay a decent rate to get a locum. Realistically we should be on £30-£35/hour. That reflects both the level of education required to qualify and our responsibilities and liabilities.

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BestLocum
Nov 03, 2020
The Big Debate

So the answer is YES......SOME locums were right to increase their rates just like the cab driver who increases their rates on public holidays or night time etc
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Beth Kennedy
Nov 03, 2020
The Big Debate

The Big Debate #1: Were some locums right to raise their rates during the first wave of COVID-19 in the Spring?

Good evening everyone, and welcome to our very first Big Debate! This week, we're debating locum rates during the first wave of COVID-19 in the Spring. Some contractors have complained of some locum contacts vastly raising their rates in response to the pandemic, while locums have reported some employers trying to drive down hourly rates. Even the GPhC waded into the argument by warning that locums groups who tried to collude between themselves to raise rates could find themselves in hot water.So, what's your view? Let us know by posting below and debate among your peers. The formal debate will close at 8pm, but the conversation will remain open for the foreseeable future.
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35 responses

About this room

Join the Big Debate! On a fortnightly basis, the C+D Community will open up a discussion on some of the biggest and most controversial subjects in pharmacy - whether that’s the products you stock in your pharmacy, the future of services or hot topics like remote supervision and hub and spoke dispensing, we'd love to hear what you think. 

Join us as we hear opposing opinions from experts and open up the floor to questions from our community members and the chance to debate some of the biggest issues in UK pharmacy today.