Buoyed by sporting success, our Advocate of the Year Dilip Joshi embarks on another busy month and finds out why pharmacists are valued in Australia

Tuesday, May 6

Ninety-nine points over three rounds of golf far exceeded my expectations in La Cala and added the weight of a third-place trophy to my hand luggage. The all-too- short break was much needed to energise my batteries and I feel ready for my pre- meeting with the LPC chief executive this morning, prior to a Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham LPC strategy day in Croydon. LPC members are assembling at 12.30 for lunch and we put the final touches to a presentation. We form teams of four, with a team lead for each borough. It is each team’s responsibility to engage with contractors, attend local forum meetings and, importantly, act as a two-way conduit between contractors and the LPC. It is my ambition that, during this term, the majority of contractors will be made aware of the LPC’s role and that their feedback will help to shape our activities.

Wednesday, May 7

This evening, I am at a working dinner for chairs and chief officers of South London LPCs. The South London Area Team (SLAT) meetings we attend regularly have not been well coordinated, resulting in disjointed debate. We agree broad areas to focus on: operational issues, such as public health campaigns and regulation (we seek a light-touch approach with emphasis on support rather than sanctions); and promoting healthcare initiatives with demonstrated outcomes that can be scaled up throughout South London. Reservations are expressed about data management and motivating the workforce. In short, can we deliver what we promise? This remains a challenge for all pharmacy negotiators.

Monday, May 12

Today, the final interview for the NPA Insurance finance director post takes place and I want to make sure the long history of caring for our members and sympathetic claims handling continues. Our preferred candidate must have an awareness of the healthcare sector and understand how we operate as a trade body on a not-for-profit basis. We are only accountable to our members and profits are recycled for their benefit rather than that of shareholders. We are happy to make a recommendation to the NPAI board. Wednesday, May 14 The RPS is holding a series of mentoring events but I am not sure how useful this initiative will be. I am an official mentor for Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, having undertaken a two-day course some 15 years ago. Other than self-development and being put on a list, nothing happened and, while the initiative sounds good, I am sceptical of any longer-term benefits.

Friday, May 16

I am in the pharmacy today meeting a merchandiser from wholesaler AAH. These people promise to increase sales by positioning products to their best advantage and I reflect that independents might be disadvantaged by not having in-house specialists whose role it is to make the best of available retail space. On the other hand, independents know their customers and are more able to respond to local needs than corporates, which seek to achieve uniform identity with centrally designed planograms.

Monday, May 19

Today sees the beginning of two days of NPA membership an governance subcommittee meetings. Kaizen – the Japanese word for continuous improvement instilled in many Japanese companies such as Toyota – is a good model for the NPA and we discuss how we can continue to improve our offering for independents. A recently launched voucher scheme giving discounts for NPA services to members has been well-received and the NPA continues to get good feedback from members.

Thursday, May 22

I attend a Lambeth borough prescribing committee meeting where it is recommended that GPs will automatically review patients on seven or more medicines. The prescribing of blood glucose strips will be limited to those costing less than £10, and switches are recommended on cost grounds. I again mention that arbitrary decisions based on cost alone have an impact on stock management in pharmacy as well as on patient adherence. I am told that, initially, prescribing recommendations will be limited to new patients. I counter that this is likely to result in mixed messages to prescribers without making significant savings.

Friday, May 23

I have an NPAI meeting this morning, which the newly appointed finance director attends. Later, I speak to 28 Australian pharmacists visiting London. I have been invited by a colleague from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, a body that represents community pharmacy in that country, to speak to visiting pharmacists about pharmacy in the UK. Having been given two venue options – Lords Cricket Ground conference rooms in the afternoon or a private area later in the evening at the hotel where they are staying – I choose the latter, only to discover the ‘private area’ is in the hotel bar! The walls are dark and there is no power point. My projector and laptop are going to remain in the bag! However, I am warmly welcomed and there is genuine interest in what I have to say. The session lasts longer than billed and I am invited to dinner to continue discussions informally. An important learning point, they say, is to look at how UK independents have evolved and adapted to change. There is no corporate ownership allowed in Australia and independents can only own up to three pharmacies in any one state. This system has encouraged innovation and pharmacy’s contribution is truly valued by government and patients alike. I must confess, I am a little envious as I head home after a good dinner and stimulating conversation.