A bitter pill for pharmacists ordered to open on holidays

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 09:24

PHARMACIES in the Lothians are being forced to open on two public holidays over the festive period – even though there will no prescriptions to hand out.

NHS Lothian is believed to be the only Scottish health board to make chemists open on both Monday, 28 December, and 4 January.

The ruling has left many pharmacy owners furious but they are unable to defy the NHS under the terms of their contract.

They have pointed out that with GPs closed on those days, there is no point in most pharmacies being open.

With the multitude of supermarket and high street pharmacists which remain open over the festive period, they say there is no need for smaller branches to be on-hand.

Simon Wilson, pharmacist and manager of the Apple Pharmacy on Dalry Road, said attempted negotiations with NHS bosses had proved useless.

"They just won't budge on it," he said. "It makes no sense whatsoever, they seem to want us to spend these two days twiddling our thumbs.

"I know over the years pharmacists have broadened to provide more services, but there will be enough cover those days from the likes of Boots."

The NHS argues that, by taking those days off, pharmacy staff would essentially be getting two free holidays – given that Boxing Day and 2 January fall on weekends. But Mr Wilson said: "Most already open for at least some time on a Saturday, so this is an extra day every week of the year.

"What infuriates us is these decisions are taken by people who sit in offices from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday, and will have the whole festive period off. This decision won't affect them at all.

"There's a lot of anger about this, but some resignation as well because you can't breach your contract with the NHS.

"We even offered to have one of our pharmacies open for half the day at Dalry, then the other one on Eyre Place for the second half so at least only one of us would have to work, but that's not good enough apparently."

Arrangements in other Scottish cities have been struck to allow most pharmacies to close on the days in question, as long as enough emergency cover is in place.

Duncan Miller, the general manager for NHS Lothian's primary care contracts, said: "NHS Lothian has a duty to provide adequate access to services over the festive season.

"Community pharmacies play an important role in this unscheduled care service.

"In line with Lothian's hours-of-service scheme, pharmacies are entitled to close on the public holidays but are required to open on normal working days, which in this case covers Saturday, 26 December, and 2 January.

"Where a pharmacy wishes to close on these Saturdays, they would be required to open on the following Monday."