JUNE, Edition # 28, 2001

Editors Note:
In Roy Stevenson's brochure, advertising his services, the following claim appears:
" I deal with everything - from the aggressive/difficult patient, up to, and including a hold-up, or break-in."

What Roy did not envisage at the time of preparing the above statement, was that when he undertook a locum for the Junction Village Pharmacy at Newcastle (located in a major shopping centre), the centre would burn down!
This happened on Tuesday 29th May 2001, at 2.30am, when the owner of the pharmacy was overseas.
Roy is famous for his colourful vocabulary, but history does not record what was said at that time of the morning for that particular occurrence.
When we originally asked Roy to write a column about locum work, we asked him to portray the difficulties, the daily events and the support systems that he needed, and was developing, in the hope that pharmacists who are near to retiring age or actively retired, would consider becoming a locum.
For stimulation, challenge and excitement, you could not beat Roy's most recent assignment.
He reflects, in a more sombre mood, what happened and what needs to be done if this disaster strikes you.

" It might be useful to share some of the lessons learned.
Of course, a whole new set of rules apply if you are trashed.
We could still trade, after the situation was declared safe to do so.
On arrival at the site identify yourself to the person in charge.
He will have a big fluoro sign on his back.
Do not make a nuisance of yourself - they WILL look after you.
You will not be allowed in, or even near your pharmacy, until they are sure it is safe to do so. These guys will bring people to you, or clearly point them out.
Try to stay in the one spot, so you are easily found.
Assemble your staff in an area away from the fire.
Tell them to always return to that area.
Exchange telephone numbers - home and mobiles.
Mobiles with voice mail are the best.
Check keyholders.
Find out who has the off-site backup, and make sure that backup stays off-site. If you are able to trade, you will probably have lots of power interruptions over the next few weeks. If you definitely do need to enter the pharmacy, find out if you will be allowed to do so, and when.
Make a list - write it down - with the staff, of everything you want to bring out. In the early stages, the "firies" will only let you in for a quick inspection, to grab a few small items, and to turn off anything which needs to be turned off.
They will only allow one or two of you in with hard hats, and you will be escorted. Make your wishes known to the person in charge, and wait patiently in the one place. Make sure whoever goes in knows the alarm code.
If the power has not been turned off, turn it off, and do not reset the alarm.
Try to arrange a torch, there will probably be no power.
I would suggest leaving everything in the safe - even if it is a floor safe full of water. At least it is secure.
Make sure there is no cash in the register.
Make a list between you of people you need to contact.. · your opposition, who you will find is more than willing to help. They will bend the rules to accommodate your patients. Keep in close contact with these guys, and leave them contact telephone numbers also.
· Guild Insurance - in our case Kim from the Newcastle Office, had visited the site before me!
Guild Insurance will take care of the assessor and all repairs etc.
· The security company.
Keep them informed over the next two weeks, re alarm set/not set.
There may be contractors working in your Pharmacy after hours.
Leave contact numbers.
Keep the Pharmacy secure.
One of the shops in our centre was broken into twice during the week following the fire
· Centre management - get their contact numbers, and give them yours.
· All staff not rostered on that day, should be advised of the situation.
· Your wholesaler - in our case Terry Thompson Newcastle, called me first.
They will do everything they can to help you. Keep in touch with them re deliveries etc.

Use a pad of paper to write down all relevant information on the day. Bits of paper, and napkins get lost!
There is no real need to start contacting carpet cleaners, shopfitters, painters and other tradespeople. Guild Insurance and the nominated assessor will take care of all that.
Make sure your staff are involved. Tell them what is happening.
Keep them involved. Seek their opinion.
Have regular staff meetings - perhaps every day.
Morale will dip, and, even although you don't feel like it, staff are vital to your recovery.
You will find that while the Fire Brigade are on site, there will be heaps of rumour and counter rumour about what is going to happen in the future.
If there is structural damage, engineers will need to inspect, and declare the building safe, before you are allowed back in. That will take some time.
Identify the person who is acting for the owner's of the centre and/or their insurer. This may be the Centre Manager, or it may be a person who has been brought onto the site to supervise the recovery, repair, and reconstruction phase.
You might have to hang around all day until you are reasonably certain what the future holds for your pharmacy.
Tell your staff what will be expected of them, and how they should dress for work, when/if you are to be allowed in.
Tell them what you think will happen the next day, and discuss dress and rosters every day.
Have a meeting with all your staff on site.
This is not a normal situation, and you should invite their input, so that everyone is involved and thinking.
When you are informed enough to leave the site, make sure that the proper people have your contact phone numbers, and that you have theirs. Remember these people might not be the same people you started the day with.
Make sure they know, you are leaving the site.
Do not set the alarm. Make sure people on the site know this, and also your security company.
Contact Guild Insurance again to confirm the updated situation, and to arrange a time for the assessor to visit.
It was interesting - in our case - to observe the reputation of the Pharmacy Guild, with all the agencies and tradespeople who will help you recover. Guild Insurance opens doors, and helps people be nice to you!
I hope that, when you are allowed back in, you will be as lucky as us."
Ends

Editor's Note:
In the next edition, Roy discusses some of the practical aspects of "mopping up", the impact on the pharmacy business, and interestingly, the impact on other shopping centres within the region.
All pharmacists should print out Roy's article in duplicate (one copy for home and one for work), and prepare some of the check lists in advance.
This would be a valid quality assurance exercise.
Roy has been a very busy boy, but we can report that he lived up to all claims in his advertising pamphlet.
With a unique brand of humour, a capacity for expecting the unexpected and a high degree of professionalism, it is obvious that Roy is providing a first class service as a locum.
I am sure there are a number of prospective employers who would like to meet him. He now has a website located at:

http://www.computachem.com.au/locums/RoyStevenson.html

You can arrange more information, and a locum booking, from this site.

Roy S.Stevenson Ph.C. M.P.S.,
Locum Pharmacist
40 Northminster Way
RATHMINES 2283.
Tel 4975 5548 Mob. 0402 406 691 Fax 0249 75 2334
ABN 11 585 465 385

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