| The role of the pharmacy in the daily lives of | | | | often able to have these monitored by |
| many people throughout the UK is as important | | | | pharmacies who will collect them for the patient |
| as any other consumer institution. After all, the | | | | from the general practitioner and ensure their |
| increase in ailments owing to age, lack of | | | | availability. In many high street outlets, major |
| exercise, and general poor health means, for | | | | chains and independent pharmacists are investing |
| many, a regular trip to see the pharmacist. The | | | | heavily in order to compete. Facilities are often |
| old pharmacy, where the friendly pharmacist | | | | brand new, which means the best resources and |
| works with you to meet your health needs, has | | | | working conditions for pharmacists. Also, |
| given way to a more bureaucratic system that is | | | | members of the public can build a strong |
| effective in dealing with a wide range of | | | | relationship with their pharmacist as they get |
| customers but lacks the human touch. However, | | | | regular prescriptions. The problem with working at |
| for pharmacists and those graduating with | | | | these facilities is that there is sometimes little |
| pharmaceutical degrees, this bureaucratisation of | | | | immediate resolution of administrative or |
| the pharmacy means a better jobs market. | | | | prescription problems, which need to be resolved |
| Hospitals and doctors' offices are beginning to hire | | | | by phone or post. |
| more pharmacists for their in-house pharmacies. | | | | The pharmacy jobs market in the United Kingdom |
| These pharmacies, which feature both | | | | and Europe is growing strongly, although its public |
| over-the-counter and prescription drugs, are | | | | face is becoming much different from what it |
| designed to provide immediate | | | | was a generation ago. Pharmacists need to remain |
| point-of-prescription convenience for patients, | | | | versatile in the workplace by maintaining |
| especially those who have mobility problems. | | | | accreditation, taking continuing educational courses, |
| Pharmacists in these types of offices have the | | | | and staying well-versed in regulations and medical |
| luxury of working directly with billing professionals | | | | knowledge alike; after all, to many of the public, |
| and health workers alike to remedy health issues | | | | the pharmacist is often more accessible than the |
| quickly. However, in other ways the in-house | | | | doctor, and acts as a resource for medical |
| pharmacy may prove restrictive, as | | | | knowledge in the marketplace. As such, |
| administrators and senior partners are often within | | | | pharmacists have a public duty to stay updated |
| walking distance. | | | | and informed on the changing nature of their |
| There is, however, still room for the traditional | | | | world. This challenge and the challenge of |
| pharmacist in the current bureaucratic system. | | | | optimising one's potential in a dynamic job market, |
| Older style pharmacies are utilising information | | | | means that a pharmacist needs to stay on his or |
| technology in order to improve the services they | | | | her toes throughout their professional life. |
| provide; patients with repeat prescriptions are | | | | |