Expert committees, welfare and education: the transformation of the hospital pharmacist in Great Britain 1920 to 1995

Abstract

Em 1920, os farmacêuticos hospitalares na Grã-Bretanha eram pouco numerosos, marginalizados com fraco estatuto social e largamente subservientes aos médicos. Na década de 1990, foram contratados vários milhares, gozavam de um estatuto elevado e as suas competências complementavam as dos médicos. Este artigo explora a forma como se operou esta transformação e os factores que para ela contribuíram, recorrendo a testemunhos pessoais e provas documentais. Foram identificados vários quadros temporais, definidos por eventos que incluíram a introdução de um serviço de saúde pública e a publicação de relatórios de comissões de peritos. A transformação dos farmacêuticos hospitalares foi facilitada por mudanças na educação, pela descoberta de novos medicamentos e pela crescente especialização tanto de médicos como de farmacêuticos.

En 1920, les pharmaciens d’hôpital en Grande Bretagne étaient peu nombreux, marginalises avec un faible statut, et amplement subordonnés aux médecins. Dans les années 90, plusieurs milliers étaient employés, ils avaient un statut élevé et leurs compétences complémentaient celles des médecins. Cet article explore la façon dont cette opération s’est opérée et les facteurs qui y ont contribué, en utilisant des témoignages personnels et des preuves documentaires. Plusieurs cadres temporels sont identifies, définis pars des événements y-compris l’introduction d’un service national de santé et la publication des rapports du comité d’experts. La transformation de la pharmacie de l’hôpital a été facilitée par les changements dans l’éducation, la découverte de nouveaux médicaments et l’augmentation de la spécialisation parmi les médecins et les pharmaciens.

In 1920 hospital pharmacists in Great Britain were few in number, marginalised with low status, and largely subservient to doctors. By the 1990s several thousand were employed, they had high status and their skills complemented doctors. This paper explores how this transformation came about and the factors that contributed to it, using personal testimony and documentary evidence. Several timeframes are identified, defined by events including introduction of a national health service and publication of expert committee reports. Transformation of hospital pharmacy was facilitated by changes in education, by new drug discoveries, and by increasing specialisation amongst both doctors and pharmacists.