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Food for thought

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Food for thought

Withering writes...

It seems the larger multiples are all in favour of MURs. There have been reports of Cohens, Lloyds, and Boots putting significant pressure on their pharmacists to deliver more MURs. It’s not surprising – it’s been estimated that if every branch of Boots reached the maximum 400 per year, it would boost their profits by about £30 million. No wonder they like them!

As we know, pharmacies can receive payments for doing up to 400 MURs a year. But to these multiples, this is regarded not as a maximum, but as a target to be reached at all costs. A Lloyds pharmacist, who was struck off after falsifying MURs, alleged that she had been put under unreasonable pressure to achieve the 400 annual target. Lloyds responded by saying that MURs should only ever be carried out in response to patient need and I’m sure no independent would see it any differently.

A leaked letter from Cohens made it clear that locums would receive only £19 per hour unless they completed two MURs per day, in which case they would be paid £21 per hour. A leaked email from a Boots area manager stated that delivering 400 MURs a year was a measure of ‘Excellent Patient Care,’ and that each one that wasn’t delivered represented a lost £28. Cash is clearly a key driver.

All independent contractors understand that pharmacy is a business and we’re all acutely aware of the impending financial difficulties with the category M clawback and the government’s proposed funding cuts. If independents aren’t already signed up to deliver MURs, they need to ask themselves why. The sums are self- explanatory: £28 x 400. If you can afford not to do them, you’re in a better position than I am. Once again, we need to take a leaf out of the multiples’ book. It’s time to stop thinking about it and just do it.

Withering is the pen name of a practising independent community pharmacist. Withering’s views are not necessarily those of ICP

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