The newsweekly for pharmacy February 7, 1987 a Benn publication No surprises in PGC s contract cash package Putfun into Rural pharmacy to suffer if ^ photography contract scrapped Nathan explains PSGB Council's inner workings GP dispensary falls at Bath planning hurdle 'No confidence' motion high on Guild agenda Introducing — the quinolones Newly appointed main distributor ofFuji film to the retail and wholesale chemist trade David Anthony Pharmaceuticals Ltd Spiiii/iis Kodd, SjK'ke Ihill liultistridl lisUite, IJirrpool IJ-f lYA Telephone: 051-^86 7117. Telex: 6298-46 Herwes (!. Now you can recommend an effective children's cough mixture that's sugar free. NIGHT-TIA/IE SOOTHES CHILDREN'S COUGHS SUGAR FREE BLACKCURRANT FLAVOUR mm- FROM BEECHAM New Veno's Night-Time is available only from pharmacists. Backed by over £750,000 national TV advertising, you can be certain that your customers will ask for it. CHEMISE DRUGGIST IN THIS ISSU February?, 1987 Volume 227 No 5559 PGC gives details of Scottish contract cash details 184 128th year of publication ISSN 0009-3033 'No confidence' motion for Guild delegate meeting 185 Incorporating Retail Chemist GP dispensary falls at Bath planning hurdle 187 Editor: JohnSkplton BPharm, MPS NPA Board report: dismay at contract delays 187 Assistant Editor: Patrick Grice BPharm, MPS Rural pharmacy to suffer if contract is scrapped 188 Features Editor: Steven Titmarsh BPharm, MPS Personal opinion — Alan Nathan describes Councirs machinations 198 Technical Editor: Robert Darrarcit!, BPharrn, MPS Pregnancy & ovulation testing — special feature 209 Contributing Editor: Adrienne de Mont Introducing the quinolones — clinical matters 221 BPharm, MPS Business Editor: Topical reflections by Xrayser 188 Letters 222 Nia Williams, BA NPA Reporter Counterpoints 190 Business news 224 Liz Hunt BPharrn MPS Prescription specialities 195 Coming events 225 Beauty Reporter: Frances Qumn, BA Clinical pharmacy: CNS pt 3 218 People 230 Art Editor: Jack Parker Price List Controller: Colin Simpson COMMEN Advertisement Manager: Peter Nichohs IP Council member responsibility". He suggests that Assistant Advertisement Alan Nathan's the scope of the information Manager: explanation of the available to Councillors can, of Doug Mytton structure and day- itself, distance decisions from Production: Shirley Wilson to-day workings of the grassroots understanding. It is Pharmaceutical Society of Great also evident from what he says Publisher: Britain's governing body is that the grassroots must make Ronald Salmon FPS clear, concise and constructive much more effort to cajole, Director: (p200). However, it is his second coerce or lobby Councillors to Christopher Leonard-Morgan article (p204) that members will make their views known. There is doubtless find the most no merit in a silent majority. enlightening. Together, they Council faces an ever give a refreshing perspective on increasing workload — witness the opportunities and difficulties whitewash by the British the great swathes of facing the 21 good men and Pharmacists Association with documentation produced by women and true, culminating in some vigorous PR. The Society, Nuffield and the Primary Health Published Saturdays a bold solution to the challenge for the most part, has waged an Care paper alone — a workload by Benn Publications Ltd decisions health requires the support and Sovereiqn Way, Tonlindqf, of making Council effective war on the which KentTN9]RW relate more closely to the views decision makers in committee involvement of all pharmacists, Telephone: 0732 364422 of the majority of members — and in private, without raising its not just the activists personified Telex: 95132 Benton G referenda on major issues. head very far above the public by Mr Nathan. Not until the Facsimile. 0732 361534 One of the barriers to the parapet. It can and should do membership appreciates its understanding of those decisions more here, and has both the Councillors more; not until the is, on occasions, poor opportunity and the means, if it ordinary pharmacist is enabled Subscriptions: Home £58 per annum. of Overseas & Eire £72 per annum in- communication both within and has the will. As Mr Nathan says: to make the sacrifice time and cluding postage. £1.20 per copy without the profession. The "Pharmacy today is confronted money necessary for Council (postage extra). Member i . of i Society has not always been by the most crucial challenges m membership these days; not until ol the Audit Bureau of I I outgoing its 150 history . Strength pharmacists Circulations open and m year many more representing the pharmacy and unity of purpose are, communicate with Council — standpoint in the public, rather therefore, absolutely essential if indeed with fellow members Regional advertisement olficeB; than just the healthcare arena. we are to survive and prosper." through the branch system — MidlaiKb: 240 244 Stratforo Boad, Slin.ey, Of late the National Pharma- Mr Nathan explains how will the powerful argument that Solihull, W Midlands B'X) lAE 021 744 4427. North Edsl and North West Graeme ceutical Association has been former firebrands can be he puts forward for referenda on House, Chorlton Place, Wilbrahatn Road. maltmg most of the runnmg, with swallowed whole by Council, major issues get Manchester M21 lAO 061 8SIU112 West latterly the Pharmaceutical their bold flame be all but the credibility \\ Country & South Wales 10 n and \^ Badminton Road, Downend, PdlTt Services Negotiating Committee extinguished by the sometimes and hearing it Bristol BS 1 6 6BO 0272 S64827 responding to a national Press onerous burden of "collective deserves. Chemist & Druggist 7 February 1987 183 NEWS No surprises in PGC's contract cash package how to apply have yet to be settled. The Pharmaceutical General The on-cost rate will be set at a flat rate Council has given details of the for all contractors, calculated on the gross remuneration package agreed with ingredient cost (before discount the Scottish Home and Health deduction). The PGC calculates the Department. It includes a two-tier average gross ingredient package for Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme, 1987-88 will be 485p, giving an average on-cost of 29. per script. It looks as if a flat on-cost rate at 6 per cent of Ip fees will be paid at the rate of about llOp gross ingredient cost, and a per script for the first 1,300 scripts and compensation scheme for those in thereafter at 60p, but exact figures are not contract since 1985 June and yet available because negotiations have dispensing less than 1 ,300 scripts a not been completed on the precise amount month. of money due m the balance sheet, says The compensation scheme will run for the PGC. two years. To be eligible contractors must The PGC says that because there is a have been continuously on a Health Board higher number of ESPs m proportion to the Over exposure list since June 7, 1985, and to have total number of contractors in Scotland "Brits abroad" are often all too dispensed on average less than 1 ,300 compared to England and Wales, they obvious, and the National scripts a month in the 12-month period cannot be supported to the same level. Pharmaceutical Association's latest prior to applying for compensation. Secretary Colin Virden says the SHHD advertisement offers a painful The PGC warns that contractors who had made it quite clear that if contractors satisfy the criteria will not have an continue to lobby for a guaranteed reminder of the effects of careless automatic right to payment. Health Boards payment the Department will insist on a exposure. can award compensation bearing in mmd rigid application of the 2km rule: the result In an abrupt departure from the bucket their duty to provide an adequate would be the loss of ESP status for nearly and spade theme of the 1986 poster, this pharmaceutical service. Payments will half the existing pharmacies. advertisement is reminiscent of the "bare only be made where a replacement Pharmacies dispensing between midriff" one which provoked some adverse pharmacy is unlikely to be justified. 1,300-1,800 scripts a month, although not comment from pharmacists. But Andrew The probable amount of compensation directly in the ESPS, will be paid at a level Carnegie, a director of the NPA's agency will be equal to the amounts paid as fees which reflects their current income plus an advertising CTMC is confident that it is and on-cost over the best 12-month period essential pharmacy allowance. Whether unlikely to be controversial or offend from July 1, 1984. The sum will not be payments are made separately or included women pharmacists or the target audience greater than that paid at the time of giving m the fees has yet to be determined, but of housewives. "I think this sort of imagery up a contract to an average contractor they will be no worse off. IS acceptable although there are those who dispensing 1,300 scripts a month. For pharmacies dispensing up to 1,300 may feel it is exploitative. It was necessary Contractors who give up their contract items a month a sliding scale is proposed: to show enough to bring the message in the 1987-88 financial year will receive for each 100 scripts (or part of) below the home". the whole sum, those giving up in the next 1,300 level, a sum of £75 would be The advertisement was approved by year half the amount. Exact details as to payable, to a maximum of £600 a month. the NPA Board members last week. And it may reach the television screen if negotiations with the Independent Television Companies Association are successful {C&D, January 17, p72). PGC: Suggestions that the new contract could be introduced unilaterally only in Scotland should negotiations in England and Wales break down have been dismissed by the Pharmaceutical General Council.