Whats on the agenda when an inspector calls?
The life of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s inspectors is a varied one and not always well understood by the pharmacists they visit. In the first of an occasional series on the work of Society staff, Judy Kirby explains the inspectors’ role There are no typical destinations for Royal Pharmaceutical Society inspectors. Their work can take them to village pharmacies, supermarkets, retail chains, corner shops, prison pharmacies, muddy car boot sales and market stalls. Wherever the public can buy medicines, an inspector can call. There are only 18 inspectors covering England, Scotland and Wales — one on the Isle of Man is by invitation of the Manx government. Between them they log thousands of miles every year, making routine visits to Britain’s 12,500 pharmacies and responding to complaints from the public, primary care trusts, veterinary surgeons, police and trading standards officers. Although public safety comes first, the Society’s Directorate of Fitness to Practise and Legal Affai
