MORE THAN one in 10 pharmacists are unhappy with the relationship they have with local doctors, according to the findings of a new study.
The research commissioned by the pharmacy regulator, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, indicates that while the majority of pharmacists were satisfied with the relationship they had with local doctors, 7 per cent were dissatisfied and 4.2 per cent very dissatisfied with that relationship.
A further 26 per cent said they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the relationship.
A report of the findings of the research, published today, says most pharmacists’ main relationship is with their local GPs, and for the majority, this relationship is very good.
“A few mentioned difficulties with local GPs, with issues such as feeling that the GP didn’t respect their role, or that queries from the pharmacist were regarded as criticism of the GP’s decisions,” it says.
It adds that their only difficulties with hospital pharmacists was accessing them outside working hours, while their only difficulty with hospital doctors was accessing them at any time.
“Several mentioned trying to chase up queries with hospital staff for weeks at a time with little success in getting phone calls returned.”
The research found a perception that pharmacy was under-valued and under appreciated in current healthcare structures.
Most pharmacies were keen to provide enhanced services. The top three services not currently provided but which pharmacists would like to provide in future are: lung capacity screening, sexual health services and structured medicine use reviews.
Overall, 457 pharmacies responded to the survey – a response rate of 28 per cent cent. In-depth interviews were also conducted with 40 community pharmacists.
The research was carried out by Horwath Bastow Charleton for the pharmaceutical society.