Rose Marie Parr warns of prolonged workforce pressure in pharmacy

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland Rose Marie Parr has issued a warning about the prolonged workforce pressure in pharmacy in the coming months and also praised pharmacy teams across the country.

In the letter to CPS, RPS, Directors of Pharmacy and the GPhC Rose Marie commented:

“We know that a significant number of you and your pharmacy colleagues are likely to be affected by the coronavirus, and will be unable to work either through personal illness or caring responsibilities. The impact of this is likely to be prolonged and so we will need additional support over the coming weeks and months to ensure that we keep our workforce healthy and are able to provide the services to those who need us.

“That is why I am appealing to you to return to practice, and re-join the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Register, whether as a full time or part-time professional now or at any point in the coming months.

“If you have left the GPhC Register within the last three years as a Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician, the GPhC has put in place processes to provide for temporary emergency registration, which will ensure you are able to work in your professional capacity within a very short period of time. And Regulatory bodies will be waiving any fees to return to the register.”

She paid tribute to the attitude of the profession of pharmacy in light of the current difficult situation:

“Finally, thank you once again for the efforts you are already making. I am very proud of the pharmacy profession’s response to this pandemic and the challenges we all face. I will take the opportunity once again to thank you, my pharmacy colleagues, across
Scotland for your ongoing efforts and support during this unprecedented and challenging time. ”