Introduction and aim
There is anecdotal evidence suggesting that roles undertaken by pharmacists working in the primary care sector of the profession are ill-defined and confused¹. It has also been reported that employers are having difficulty in recruiting pharmacists with the 'right skills' into post². As part of a larger study, a secondary analysis was undertaken of Pharmaceutical Journal (PJ) job advertisements to provide information on key features of the anticipated working practices and key responsibilities of posts for pharmacists working in primary care.

Method
Data on newly created primary care posts were identified from PJ job advertisements over a 13-month period between the beginning of January 1999 and the end of January 2000. Posts selected for the study included those requesting the provision of pharmaceutical support by pharmacists based in either one or a combination of the following locations: GP practices, Primary Care Groups, Primary Care Trusts and Health Authorities, in England. Data recorded for each advert included: job title, grade, salary, hours of work, length of contract, necessity of a clinical diploma, and information on the key roles of the post.

Results
Data on 178 job advertisements were collected. Salary information was highly variable, with salary bands and/or Whitley council grades given in most adverts, although under a third (32%) did not specify the salary. Just under a third of adverts gave no specified hours of work, and just under two thirds omitted the length of the contract. For posts providing this information, the majority (82%) specified contracts of either one or two years. Less than a fifth of the adverts (16%) specified that possession of a clinical diploma was necessary or desirable. More than half (51.7%) of the job adverts anticipated that the post holders would be either attached to, or based in one or more PCG(s) with fewer cases of the post holder based or attached to a practice, a PCG and hospital, and a HA (16.3%, 11.2% and 15.7%, respectively). Job titles and key responsibilities were variable, although Pharmaceutical adviser and PCG pharmacist were the most frequently ascribed job titles, accounting for 29% and 28% respectively. Unsurprisingly, the majority (95%) of adverts anticipated post holders to be involved in some form of prescribing support, mostly relating to administrative services.

Discussion
The analysis of documentary evidence in the PJ highlights a number of important issues about the nature of pharmaceutical input into PCGs. One interesting revelation concerned the main function of the post. Although a great variety of responsibilities were identified, the main one was around prescribing support. This is perhaps not surprising, given that the management of the unified budget is one of the main drivers for increased pharmaceutical support. However, it may be disappointing for potential pharmacist involvement in delivering the wider healthcare agenda.

References

1. Jesson J., Wilson K. Primary Are Pharmacists: A Conceptual Model. Pharm J 1999; 263:62-4
2. Mason P. Opportunities for Pharmacists in Primary Care. Prim Care Pharm 1999: 1(1):3-5.