A 30 minute ‘Inside Out’ special investigation documentary programme entitled “Boots: Pharmacists under pressure?” is being shown on the BBC next week (see below for viewing times across the UK) and we think it will be of significant interest to anyone concerned with pharmacy and especially those who work at Boots.
The programme content is described as: “Behind the counter of the UK’s biggest pharmacy chain, some pharmacists are worried about workload pressure and patient safety. For the first time, a former Boots professional standards manager talks publicly about the staffing concerns he raised before he resigned more than two years ago. Is it time to look again at regulations which allow pharmacy owners to decide staffing levels?”
You can see a trailer for the programme here: https://www.facebook.com/PharmacistsDefenceAssociation/posts/1588746671185858 or here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05snjfc
As the only independent trade union exclusively for pharmacists, we were approached by the documentary makers for our views and we have contributed to the programme. We provided industry expertise and evidence from the experiences of our members working for the company. We will not see the programme before transmission; however, we believe it will reflect the working conditions for many pharmacists at the largest pharmacy multiple in the UK.
The documentary makers are focusing on Boots in this programme, though any concerns about the effectiveness of the regulators or government priorities for community pharmacy, that are addressed as a result of the broadcast may have positive implications wherever you are employed.
Those who have the power to improve safety and working conditions in pharmacy will have a choice on how to respond to the issues raised in the programme. They can acknowledge and positively address the problems or attempt to deny what is portrayed and deflect blame. You can be assured that through our campaigning the PDA will continue to tackle these matters and will encourage employers, government and others to take action.
Given experience of previous occasions when the mainstream media has focused on community pharmacy, we recommend you watch the programme for yourself so that you are directly aware of the content.
We will be in touch again after transmission with further information.
Regards
The PDAU
Broadcast times:
BBC1
Mon 8 Jan 2018 19:30
except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland, Scotland HD, Wales, Wales HD
Mon 8 Jan 2018 22:45
Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Wales, Wales HD only
Tue 9 Jan 2018 23:25
Except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland, Scotland HD
BBC2
Thurs 11 Jan 2018 20:00
Scotland
IPlayer
We assume it will also be available on the BBC Iplayer, but you may need to check or record the programme.