CPNI EVENT Dispensing Health: A solution for the health system
James McCaughan, community pharmacist, Gerard Greene, CE,
CPNI, Mervyn Storey MLA, Finance Manager, Willie McCaughey, David McIllveen MLA
Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) held a Long Gallery event at Parliament Buildings on 1st March to launch “Dispensing Health: Community Pharmacy’s Solution for the Health and Social Care System.”
With 123,000 people accessing community pharmacies every day in Northern Ireland, community pharmacy is the most accessible HSC resource.
Using evidence-based solutions, the CPNI paper focuses on six key action areas which, if addressed, would enable the community pharmacy profession to fully utilise its unique accessibility and clinical skills to help relieve some of the pressures that exist across the Health and Social Care (HSC) system.
CPNI state that all proposals within the document are ‘entirely consistent’ with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSPPS) ‘Making it Better through Pharmacy’ in the Community Strategy and Medicines Optimisation Framework.
The event was sponsored by Paula Bradley MLA, and drew an audience which included MLAs, patients, statutory organisations, voluntary
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groups, community and hospital pharmacists, all of whom had the opportunity to find out more about the ways in which the 123,000 individuals visiting community pharmacies every day are supported.
Speaking at the event, Fearghal McKinney MLA, Deputy Leader of the SDLP and the party’s health spokesperson said, “Community pharmacies are a front door to the health system and play a vital role in filtering out a number of less serious medical cases.
“The solutions in the Dispensing Health document are evidence-based examples and clearly demonstrate how community pharmacy can relieve pressure on other parts of the Health and Social Care (HSC) System.”
Presentations examined local healthcare initiatives and the positive impact they are making to patients in their communities and also looked to the future with glimpses into some local community pharmacy innovations.
Kicking off proceedings was Eoghan O’Brien, community pharmacist and nominated pharmacist, Antrim/ Ballymena ICP who looked at the ‘Current Opportunities in Community Pharmacy.’
Mary O’Hagan presenting some of the work carried out by BCPP
These included the Minor Ailments Service, Medicines Use Reviews, community support and public health, specifically the Smoking Cessation Service.
During his presentation Eoghan was joined by one of his patients who added their own unique perspective. Previously a smoker of 20-30 cigarettes per day for 18 years, Paddy McErlean successfully stopped smoking through the Smoking Cessation Service delivered by Eoghan.
This has had a major impact on Paddy’s health and well-being and in his own words his life has been ‘transformed’.
The Community-Focused Approach of community pharmacy was explored in a presentation by Mary O’Hagan, Monitoring Officer, Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP).
Mary looked at the wide-reaching impact and engagement that took
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