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Business Consultant Pharmacist
Primary Care Pharmacist Consultant
Qualified Persons In The Pharmaceutical Industry
Traditionally, locum pharmacists have always recognised the need to exercise a great deal of care in all of their professional dealings. With the introduction of PMR's, needle exchange schemes, residential home services, ward visits and now even diagnostic tests, this duty of care has become ever more onerous. Sadly though, as the locum's activities become more diverse and often in unfamiliar surroundings, the patients served are becoming ever more litigation conscious. Should the unthinkable happen and a patient is seriously harmed through an error, the result can be very alarming. Human considerations apart, the resultant investigation may involve attempts to apportion blame and with reputations at stake the subsequent legal and even compensation costs may prove extremely costly.
Historically, cover for a locum has been provided by the employer. Increasingly however, locums are coming to realise that should there be a claim from a patient, any ensuing action taken by their employer's insurance company may well serve their employer's interests, but could leave them individually exposed. As many incidents involve more than one member of the Healthcare team, a locum's legal case must be at least as good as that of other Healthcare team members involved. With the Inland Revenue always keeping a close eye on locum self employed status, the 'employer provided' type of insurance was always used as an argument by the Revenue to challenge the right to self employment. Some of the largest employers of locums have now made a locum's own PI insurance a condition of using a locum in their pharmacy. There are many additional and more common sources of conflict, e.g. an argument over issues of confidentiality, a problem with C.D. regulations or even a conflict with a local RPSGB inspector. Furthermore, should there be a need for legal advice or legal representation at a coroner's inquest, RPSGB Statutory Committee or even a compensation payment to a patient, the resultant costs could be well beyond the means of a locum.
Click here for PIA Locum Pharmacist insurance
which is now available through The PDA.
Such insurance represents the only realistic way in which these costs could be met - such a policy can now be taken out in your own right. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is now bringing this need to the attention of all pharmacists. Indeed, The RPSGB Code of Ethics now requires all pharmacists to work with PI insurance protection.
This Pharmacy Insurance Agency (PIA) policy has been designed specifically for the protection of the individual pharmacist, it meets fully with the requirements of self employed locum pharmacists. Whether working in community, hospital, prison, any other branch of the profession or any combination, the PIA scheme has been designed in such a way as to give a much required PEACE OF MIND in all the areas mentioned and provides many additional facilities. It is flexible in that it provides a choice of coverage. Cover does not however include any 'more specialised' consultancy work undertaken in a G.P. Surgery. (This is only covered by the more specialist PIA 'Primary Care Pharmacist Consultant' scheme available upon application). Cover continues to operate even if you decide to take on an employed position during the year, protection will then also be provided for any subsequent odd day locum work.