Co-op Pharmacy withdraw from NPA

Official notification today that the Co-operative Pharmacy has withdrawn from the National Pharmaceutical Association. This has implications for all pharmacists and locums, especially with regard to PIA. Whilst the Co-op have a history of insurance via the CIS (Co-operative Insurance Services), so this doesn't seem an unreasonable move, the small print may yet need to be checked as to how it might impact on indemnity insurance. We should all be checking our own policies carefully to make sure we have adequate protection in the rare event that we need it.

On the plus side, they have set up their own helpdesk which they claim will do the same job as the NPA Information Service and this is available during store opening hours. Perhaps we could get some constructive feedback on how this is working from locums where they have to use it?

On a broader front, it does beg the question as to whether the NPA will be damaged by the loss of such a large cohort of members - the Co-op is now the third biggest pharmacy chain in the UK so this will represent significant loss of revenue to the NPA as well as loss of members. Will it affect service levels and support generally in the future? Only time will tell.