Boris Johnson has thanked “wonderful pharmacists” for their vital work during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a self-shot video message posted last night, the Prime Minister said: “I think how important it is that our pharmacists are not only dispensing vital medicines but also very often reassurance to the customers they interact with, so thank you to our wonderful pharmacists for everything that you are doing,” he said.
The Prime Minister also thanked doctors, nurses and other former professionals for returning to duty, as well as the 750,000 volunteers who have come forward to help the NHS tackle the coronavirus.
Sandra Gidley’s pharmacy lesson to Prime Minister
In response to the Prime Minister’s video from his ‘bunker’ at No 11, where he is self-isolating after testing postitive for Coronavirus, President of Royal Pharmaceutical Society Sandra Gidley thanked the Prime Minister for “finally recognising pharmacists.”
Dear Boris.Thank you for finally recognising pharmacists but they are not “private sector” – they are part of the NHS in the same way GPs are so please treat us equally. Oh – and we have patients – not customers. Please get well soon so that we can have a virtual chat about this
— Sandra Gidley (@SandraGidley) March 29, 2020
However, she reminded Prime Minister Johnson that contrary to what he had said in the video message, pharmacies were not a “private sector” but part of the NHS “in the same way” that the GP surgeries were.
She also attempted to clarify that people visiting pharmacies were “not customers” – as referred to by the prime minister – but “patients,” a term widely preferred by pharmacy professionals.
