WINNER
"TO ME, THE DRIVE AND PASSION TO DELIVER ENHANCED CARE IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT IS CRUCIAL AFTER WORKING FOR MANY YEARS IN PRIMARY CARE"
work adds to the overall pharmacy experience.
medication reviews and through working in partnership with both the patient and GP the real quality outcomes can - and are - being achieved.
‘The standards of care are hugely improved with better access to a trained prescribing clinician who can now prescribe in several chronic long-term disease management,’ Bernadette continues. ‘The accessibility with extended hours means easier access and is releasing capacity from our GP colleagues. In fact, on one occasion in the last six months, the team collaboration saved a hospital admission.
As a result of Bernadette’s drive and enthusiasm, the public expectations of what to expect within the local community pharmacy have increased and Bernadette and her team are receiving lots of positive feedback about the care that their clinical
‘The teamwork between the practice staff and pharmacy is improved by regular meetings with myself and the practice manager,’ says Bernadette, ‘and in each of the last three months, I have attended the practice meeting to present and discuss the CMS programme, updating the GPs and getting support with the pain, asthma and COPD joint initiatives between our practices. We’ve already identified ten patients still on COX 2 inhibitors and the practice is working on providing us with a list of all asthma non-attendees and those with more than twelve reliever inhalers per year. They have agreed to refer for early diagnostic SPIROMETRY suitable patients to the pharmacy nurse led clinic. This integrated collaboration is the Vision of Pharmacy in action and we are every day trying our best to provide Prescription for Excellence.’
The integration with nurses and doctors - and now podiatry and acupuncture services - is creating new networks and options for Bernadette’s patients to access a variety of care within the community. She remains visionary in her approach and willing to spend practice funds without additional government support to try and realise that vision so that she can live the clinical life in her lifetime from the pharmacy setting.
‘I can give you one particular example of how this joined-up working approach has worked so successfully,’ Bernadette says. ‘One of our regular elderly ladies came in wanting a pain killer as she wasn’t feeling great. I know her well and was able to see she seemed a bit confused. She’s also a diabetic on insulin, so I checked her glucose level. It was dangerously high at 32. Fortunately, I was able to speak
with this lady’s GP within ten minutes and our driver collected her insulin from her home. within 30 minutes my staff had taken her over to the surgery and she had a GP consultation, where she was given insulin. She was closely monitored by the practice for a few days until her levels settled. A diabetic nurse was at her home within a week to check her technique and adjust her levels until she was completely stable. This lady lives on her own and is in every day just to say hello and to let us know how she is. We love that we are more than just a pharmacy for our patients. We are somewhere where they feel safe and can ask for help, knowing that, even if we cannot help, we will get them the help they need. On this occasion, there’s no doubt that we - in conjunction with the GP - saved a hospital admission.’
What makes Bernadette Brown unique is that she brings the GP world into pharmacy with a unique blend of friendliness and professionalism that makes people feel at ease. The overall pharmacy experience patients have is like no other and the family feel, warm welcome and caring yet efficient and clinical environment is special.
"THE STANDARDS OF CARE ARE HUGELY IMPROVED WITH BETTER ACCESS TO A TRAINED PRESCRIBING CLINICIAN WHO CAN NOW PRESCRIBE IN SEVERAL CHRONIC LONG-TERM DISEASE MANAGEMENT."
SCOTTISH PHARMACIST - 47
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