ULSTER CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION IN FOCUS


President's Welcome A


nother year begins for community pharmacists. Will there be any change in the


challenges we face in the dispensary or medicines counter this year? there seems to be room for optimism this year more than any other of the last few.


contract negotiations are well underway. cPNI’s excellent report ‘community pharmacy…the best kept secret’ is timely indeed. the department of health have been asking for evidence of the value community pharmacists provide. on page 6 of the magazine cPNI demonstrate the value of community pharmacy to the health service. We know our ability to treat, signpost and alleviate pressure on the NhS is acknowledged but pitifully rewarded.


this report begins to detail what we do on a daily basis and I hope that cPNI use this evidence in their negotiations. A strong, but flexible, central contract can help pharmacy deliver on its untapped potential. there is a strong and highly motivated work force crying out to be involved. I hope the department will see what we can and have been doing, allowing community pharmacy to take a central role in primary care for patients.


the retail environment also continues to be testing for many pharmacies. high rates, rents and ever increasing wages put a strain on business. our highly trained workforce of pharmacists, technicians and counter staff deserve to be paid a fair wage for the job they do. the new contract


may only go so far to alleviate those pressures, so it is heartening to see finance minister mairtin o’muilleoir is looking seriously at the rates burden faced by many small businesses. community pharmacy is frequently at the heart of the community and high street. A major employer and supporter of ancillary services, it is vital that we can continue in the role of high street health provider with a fair rates system in place. (full report on page 56)


UcA communications continue to go from strength to strength with mairead’s facebook campaign with our charity partner AgE NI. A daily post from UcA and a community pharmacy caused quite a stir on social media. this is only one of the ways UcA is helping push the community pharmacy message and that of your individual business. more to come this year. contact mairead at the UcA office for more details.


PROMOTING AND PROTECTING COMMUNITY & PRIMARY CARE PHARMACY IN NORTHERN IRELAND


I look forward to the UcA Ball and announcing the winners of the annual Pharmacy in focus awards. It promises to be another great night, with plenty of opportunity for networking and catching up with friends and colleagues.


All that is left now is for me wish you all a very happy new year. on a professional and financial level let’s hope it is a rewarding one!


clIff mcElhINNEY, PRESIdENt, UlStER chEmIStS' ASSocIAtIoN


REPRESENtAtIoN PhARmAcISt’S dIARY by mairead conlon


I hope you all had a great christmas and were able to enjoy a few days off after a busy and prosperous december.


Since my last article, our core Pharmacist Representation group met and came up with the fantastic new feature ‘10 questions’ for Pif.


I hope you enjoy reading a little more about the main players within the pharmacy profession in NI over the forthcoming editions so, if you have any suggestions, just get in touch.


look out for the article introducing health literacy - this is an ongoing piece of work within the PPRB group that I sit on, so we are excited to explain more about this over the coming months.


Tel: 028 9065 6576 www.uca.org.uk


I also had the opportunity to attend a discussion with the health minister, michelle o’Neill, at Stormont. It is very clear from listening to her that she is very focussed on moving the contract negotiations forward.


In November, I visited UU and spoke to their first years and also attended the qUB careers day, highlighting careers in community pharmacy. I’ll be back at both universities to talk about pre-reg placements in the next few weeks.


I ran a very successful press and social media campaign ‘No one should have no one’ with our charity partner AgeNI for a month before christmas.


I featured a different pharmacy each day on social media and I am


delighted to say our message reached several thousand people every day, through december.


thanks to all who took part. As pharmacists, we are so well placed to be able to look after our older customers who rely on us so much, especially during the winter.


Just before christmas , Adrienne and I attended the NIIRtA/ hospitality Ulster Reception.


We took the opportunity to speak with both the finance minister, máirtín Ó muilleoir mlA and the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, on the effect of Brexit on cross border healthcare provision


I have very much enjoyed getting out visiting and assisting a number of you


over the last few months and I look forward to meeting with more of you in the near future.


happy New Year everyone. I hope it is good for us all.


contact UcA office on 02890656576 or email mairead@uca.org.uk


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