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As a company
I have no concerns about Woolworths, in fact my son's first job
when he started university was as a casual at the local Big W
store.
He learned a lot from this job about dealing with customers, management
of staff and stock and the importance of team work in the work
place.
I think he has fond memories of his years with the company and
made a number of good friends among the other students working
their way through university.
A great retailing company though it might be I would not like
to see Woolworths Pharmacies become a fact of life in Australia
working on the old adage that "If it ain't broke, why fix
it?".
On reflection I remember a number of articles and letters that
appeared in The Pharmacy Journal from pharmacists who were, or
had been, employed by Tesco, a chain of supermarkets which, under
UK law, is permitted to own pharmacies.
The primary concern of those writers unhappy with the group was
the loss of professional independence and inability to spend time
with patients.
As someone who, when working in a community pharmacy, spent a
fair amount of time persuading customers NOT to purchase OTC items
if there was no clinical justification for them, I would be very
unhappy at being forced to meet specific sales targets at the
expense of my professional integrity.
My son's experience at Big W was that each section of store must
meet such targets.
I know, successful pharmacies operate on similar lines but that
doesn't mean I have to like it, which is why I moved into hospital
pharmacy.
Other writers in PharmJ were happy with Tesco, citing benefits
in career structure and increased buying power, but these were
in the minority.
The negative tone apparent in many of the articles and letters
is surprising given that pharmacy chains such as Boots are common
in the UK so there must be something different about the supermarket/department
store scene that causes these feelings.
Once again I find it depressing that the "attack" on
community pharmacy in Australia continues and even has many so
called experts support a take-over by the major chains.
I still question whether there will be any benefit to the customer
if Woolworths should finally succeed, especially here in the West
where large stores are unable to extend trading hours.
PBS patient contributions are unlikely to be discounted so no
cost savings, hours of service will be reduced and cognitive services
will come under threat.
Not a pretty picture for pharmacists who hope to improve the image
of the profession and become more involved members of the health
care team.
I'm sure a number of my fellow contributors to this newsletter
will possibly welcome the advent of the mega-chain pharmacy but
the thought of Woolworths B. Pharm. fills me with a degree of
trepidation.
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article in Woolworths series---------->
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