Q&A
Indeed, I believe this is equally true of all the current members of the PSNI council who bring a wealth of diverse experiences and skills to the work of regulation.
As for what motivated me to become involved with the Pharmaceutical Society NI, I have for a long time had a passion for patient safety.
WIth thE EmERgENcE of thE commUNItY PhARmAcY qUAlItY ASSURANcE vISItS, do YoU foRESEE moRE REgUlAtoRY PoWERS BEINg hANdEd to thE BoARd/lESS WIth thE SocIEtY? No: the roles are separate and based on two distinctly different premises. the work of the board is solely focused on the contractual arrangements between the board and the contractor (eg, hSc trusts), whilst the role of the regulator is based on the legislative requirements for this organisation to set standards for pharmacy premises and businesses, as well as pharmacists.
WhAt ARE thE REgUlAtoRY ISSUES fAcINg oUR PRofESSIoN coNSIdERINg WE NoW hAvE moRE dIvERSE RolES IN dIffERENt SEttINgS? As the roles of pharmacists change and the regulatory landscape changes the challenges remain as they always have been, namely ensuring that the standards set are fair, proportionate and robust.
however, it is recognised that as pharmacists and other health professionals continue and develop more in the area of inter-disciplinary working, all regulators are working through the challenges this creates.
this is particularly important after the publication of the Bengoa report and the minister for health’s ten year vision, which sees an enhanced and changing role for pharmacists. As a regulator we need to ensure that we are up to speed with the changing roles of pharmacists and any new regulatory challenges which this might create.
It is equally important, however, that we have to ensure that regulation is flexible and proportionate enough not to stand in the way of innovation and the delivery of the highest levels of service, because ultimately that is what we all want from our health service.
WhAt WoUld YoU SAY IS thE BIggESt chAllENgE fAcINg thE PhARmAcY PRofESSIoN At PRESENt ANd hoW do YoU PlAN to AddRESS thAt? the provision of a modern health service in Northern Ireland remains a major challenge both in terms of resources and services.
As the population ages, we are seeing more complex long term illnesses, the challenge to maintain a healthy population will require new and innovative methods of service delivery. this will mean that the nature of regulation will also need to
change and this can only be achieved successfully by modern legislation, collaborative working between regulators and a strong commitment of the pharmacy profession to work with the regulator and the public to achieve the best and safest outcomes in terms of regulation for patients, the public and the profession.
As I have already said, the minister’s vision is beginning to flesh out the changing role for pharmacists. As a modern, fully devolved regulator I think we are in a good place to maintain public protection, but we also have enough local knowledge
“thE RolE of PhARmAcIES hAS EvolvEd IN REcENt YEARS ANd I ExPEct WIll
EvolvE mUch fURthER AS PhARmAcIStS PlAY AN INcREASINglY ImPoRtANt lEAd RolE IN thE PRovISIoN of hIgh qUAlItY
hEAlthcARE, dEAlINg Both WIth hEAlth ISSUES AS thEY ARISE WIth PAtIENtS, ANd ImPoRtANtlY IN thE ESSENtIAl WoRK of PREvENtAtIvE hEAlthcARE”
and are connected into the local healthcare system in such a way that I am confident we can maintain the flexibility required to ensure that the regulation of pharmacists in Northern Ireland will continue to protect the public but will not stand in the way of innovative reform in terms of service delivery.
WhY IS PhARmAcY PERcEIvEd to BE lAggINg BEhINd othER hEAlthcARE PRofESSIoNS IN ItS dEvEloPmENt? As a non-pharmacist, whose remit only runs to regulation, I won’t venture to answer this question, however, I am pleased to note that the minister has placed pharmacists at the core of her vision for healthcare.
ANd oN A lIghtER NotE… If YoU coUld BE A SUPERhERo foR PhARmAcY WhAt/Who WoUld YoU BE ANd WhY? dr Who. to have the intellect to find the right solution for every problem, the courage to make it happen, and the humanity to care about doing the right thing for every patient. the ability to time travel would be an interesting bonus to fix mistakes of the past and anticipate the future.
WhAt ARE YoUR fAvoURItE BIScUItS? ginger nuts. But these days I have to avoid them and other sweet stuffs for the good of my health. Scoffing an entire packets of ginger nuts while watching tv or reading is now (sadly) a thing of the past.
WhAt IS YoUR fAvoURItE BooK ANd WhY? this is a very difficult question to answer because there are so many. But if I had to choose one I would go for to Kill A mockingbird by harper lee. It’s a wonderful story that deals with diverse issues like bigotry, parenthood, justice and best of all how precious and insightful is childhood innocence. •
IN oUR NExt EdItIoN, WE WIll BE PUttINg oUR tEN qUEStIoNS to JoE BRogAN. If YoU hAvE ANY qUEStIoNS YoU WoUld lIKE to ASK JoE, PlEASE EmAIl thEm to
mAIREAd@UcA.oRg.UK
PhARmAcY IN focUS - 51
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