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Zoe Smeaton reports.
The idea of giving up your evenings to pore over the latest pharmacy service specifications may not be the most appealing idea. But local pharmaceutical committees (LPCs) have moved on and getting involved might be more fun, and better for your career prospects, than you imagine.
LPCs are the local leadership bodies for community pharmacy. Meetings are likely to cover everything from pharmacist worries or service delivery to how the profession can best negotiate with commissioners or get doctors on their side. Being on the committee therefore requires a passion for the profession and determination to help it develop. There are also key skills you’ll be able to develop and put into practice.
Salim Jetha, CEO at Avicenna, says: “Working as a team would help develop your communication skills. You will have the opportunity to share opinions and raise issues and will be accountable and questionable by the contractors at large.”
Mike King, head of LPC and contractor support at PSNC, says it offers training to LPCs on a regular basis, which you could take advantage of.
As well as covering specific politically important topics that would help improve your knowledge of the sector, these also touch on topics such as leadership, negotiations and management. These are all transferable skills likely to help you in other areas of your working life, too – perhaps you’ll be better placed to manage your own team or negotiate that all-important pay rise.
Just attending meetings and mixing with other pharmacists also brings benefits, as Boots pharmacist Angela Chalmers says: “You will get to work in a different capacity with a team of pharmacists passionate about community pharmacy. You will meet a number of other pharmacists working in other areas of pharmacy – so it’s great for networking.”
On top of all of this, being part of your LPC will give you an insight into what is happening with pharmacy services locally. This could be useful and make you attractive to employers, as Mr Jetha notes: “The employer will benefit if you demonstrate that you have a better understanding of the issues facing the sector.” Mimi Lau, Numark’s director of professional and training services, agrees: “The benefit of doing this is great from a business perspective in that it gives you a ‘heads up’ on what is happening locally with regards to PCT priorities and new service commissioning opportunities.”
Having experience working at a strategic level in this way is likely to help if you’re looking to progress from pharmacist to area manager, for example. Being on your LPC also demonstrates your enthusiasm for the sector, and shows you have initiative and are prepared to take on new challenges. It could even act as a stepping stone to a position on PSNC or other pharmacy bodies.
If you’re concerned about the time commitment, speak to your LPC. Nowadays many hold their meetings in the daytime, so you shouldn’t even have to put in hours after work as long as your employer is happy to provide cover for you being out of the dispensary.
Suzanne Austin, service development pharmacist at the Co-operative Pharmacy and executive secretary of South Cheshire LPC, says her company provides cover for pharmacists to attend the meetings, and at the end of the year pharmacists receive a payment for sitting on the committee. Your travel expenses will be met by the LPC.
So if you’re keen to start climbing that career ladder, give some thought to joining your LPC. As Ms Lau concludes, it may require some effort on your part, but “the reward is potentially high”.