The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has launched a further salvo in its battle to prevent pharmacy medicine (P-med) self-selection from being adopted as Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) policy in a statement published this week (July 23).

The pharmacy union said that its members had raised "several concerns" about the “inappropriate” manner of the RPS’s discussion of the issue at its June board meeting and a paper written about the debate ahead of the meeting.

The PDA added that its members had difficulties attending the meeting “due to the location” and because it did not have “remote dial-in facilities”, while those who could were given “observer status only” and “could not participate”.

Read more: RPS ‘clearly at odds' with GPhC over P-med self-selection

It said that the RPS's decision to "renew" the debate on self-selection was "both premature and disingenuous", as it called on its members to “share their views” in an online survey that will run until August 2.

“Despite the unexpected nature of this development, the PDA is ready and insists that a broader debate within the profession must take place if substantial proposals on changes to practice are being considered,” it added.

The RPS told C+D that it welcomes the "wider interest" in the controversial debate.

 

“Riddled with flaws”

 

The PDA said that it was "astounded that the wider profession and community pharmacy sector had not been involved before this meeting”, which it said would have allowed for “a balanced and unbiased debate".

And the RPS paper, written by its director for England James Davies, came under scrutiny by the trade union, which described it as “riddled with flaws and risks”. 

The union added that the paper suggested the permission of P-med self-selection “ought to be a local decision” made by the superintendent or pharmacy owner, who may not be a registered pharmacist or involved in the pharmacy’s day-to-day running.

Read more: ‘Betrayal of profession’: RPS slammed for mulling pro P-med self-selection stance

And it rebuked the RPS for referring to patients as “consumers" or "customers" throughout the paper, which it said that "a professional leadership body for healthcare professionals" should “never” do.

Meanwhile, the PDA said that it is “not the role of a professional leadership body” to change its P-med self-selection policy as a means by which pharmacies can accommodate “an NHS funding gap”.

Read more: RPS launches call for evidence on P-med self-selection amid controversy

The trade union added that it had “significant concerns” that Davies had said that possible changes to supervision legislation “may allow for the sale of P medicines under the supervision of a pharmacy technician operating with delegated authority”. 

It said this description of supervision changes is “contrary” to the conclusion made by the Supervision Practice Group, which counted the RPS as a signatory.

 

“Aggressive” patients

 

Pharmacists also took to social media to raise concerns about the contentious topic.

One locum pharmacist said on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week (July 22) that they “had an aggressive patient on Saturday when refused a P sale with an explanation why”.

“Once it’s in their hand and you refuse the sale, it’s much more difficult- as far as they’re concerned [the medicine is] in their possession and they want it regardless,” they said, responding to a cartoon shared by another pharmacist.

 

RPS welcomes “wider interest”

 

In response, RPS chief executive Paul Bennett told C+D yesterday (July 24) that the professional body welcomes “the wider interest in this important topic of professional practice”. 

He said that the RPS’s call for evidence on self-selection will “help [the membership body] have an informed discussion about [its] future policy in this area”.

Read more: Coroner: Medicines regulator must ‘take action’ after anti-nausea P-med death

The RPS issued its call for evidence on the “benefits and harms of a facilitated self-selection model” earlier this month, saying at the time that the evidence will “enable” the royal society to “consider [its] current position”.

Self-selection is now permitted by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), although the regulator has insisted that pharmacies offering P-meds for self-selection must do so in a “facilitated” manner.