AWARD WINNERS


PHARMACIST OF THE YEAR


SARAH BRIMSTONE rAnDAlSToWn PhArMACIES lTD


If ThErE WAS EVEr A PhArMACIST Who ProMoTES ThE BEnEfITS of CoMMUnITy PhArMACy AT All lEVElS, IT’S ThE WInnEr of ThIS yEAr’S PhArMACIST of ThE yEAr AWArD!


n


ow in her eleventh year at randalstown Pharmacies ltd (rPl), Sarah has worked her


way through the company to her current position as Pharmacy Manager, and, in doing so, has clearly demonstrated the diversity of the role of the community pharmacist through her versatility and practicality.


rPl is an independent community pharmacy, which consists of two shops, one in randalstown health Centre and the other situated on the town’s Main Street. Both shops are very different in terms of the cohorts of the community they serve.


however, Sarah has worked hard to develop business principles, which are equally applied in both environments. Both shops are both extremely busy, with high footfall, and so it is vital that, as Pharmacy Manager, Sarah demonstrates strong, stable leadership.


Since her pre-registration year, Sarah has been constantly building on her MPharm degree through practical experience and by building a sound CPD portfolio.


In 2013, in her role as Pharmacy Manager, for example, Sarah took the company through the Investors in People Accreditation. This was a lengthy process and - for a small company - required the updating of various policies and protocols. She is currently working on


22 - PhArMACy In foCUS


upgrading this achievement for the new levels in 2017.


In 2014, Sarah completed an Advanced Diploma in Management Practice and was honoured with a distinction.


In october of the same year, Sarah organised and ran a gluten free health fair for both the pharmacies’ local catchment area - and beyond. The evening was widely publicised in local press, church bulletins, community newsletters etc, with the result that it was massively supported. Indeed, people came from as far as Ballyclare Carrickfergus and Portglenone to attend the event.


The event had various information stands, dietitians, gluten-free bakeries, gluten-free chefs, support groups and cooking demonstrations. Sarah also used the event as an opportunity to promote the pharmacy’s recently installed e-care system and carried out various health checks for members of the public. She was the lead organiser in the entire event - from the invitations to demonstrators, to marketing the event, right through to negotiation of pharmacy payment.


With regard to the e-care system, Sarah organised the installation of the system in both rPl shops and worked with Stephen from Ballee Pharmacy in Ballymena to both purchase the system and to train the rPl pharmacists in using it.


The system is widely used within the pharmacy and is viewed as extremely beneficial by other healthcare professionals in the local health centre.


Between october and December 2015, Sarah worked as an ICP baseline audit pharmacist. This work enabled her to go out to other pharmacies within the locality and see how services were being implemented and understood by those working on the frontline of the profession. Sarah found this work very different to the usual community pharmacist role, but enjoyed speaking with other colleagues and working with them to further enhance the service.


Sarah regularly represents rPl at meetings with gP practices in the area on local issues such as medicines misuse and prescribing issues. The gPs respect her input and she has become a valued member of the multidisciplinary team at randalstown health Centre.


Sarah worked with Edel McMahon MPS to devise practical accessible forms for completing both diabetic and asthma MUrs. These forms have since been taken on by both UCA and the northern ICP as a valuable tool to assist pharmacists in carrying out effective and time-efficient MUrs.


Sarah also recognises the need to have community pharmacy


recognised by the public and, as such, lobbies the role of community pharmacy at a political level. local MPs and delegates are invited to all health fair events and to shop promotions.


recently, for example, Sarah organised for the Mayor of Antrim and newtownabbey Council to come into the shop to see the services on offer during ‘Ask your Pharmacist Week’ and, when the pharmacy was awarded health Plus Pharmacy status, she invited the then health Minister, Simon hamilton, to recognise the work involved.


Sarah has always been extremely proactive in working with the local community in both the provision of care and the promotion of health and wellbeing. She was recently the lead pharmacist on two BCPP level 2 projects and a level 1 project. Sarah works with the groups and establishes a timetable of various talks and workshops tailored to the needs of that particular group. Such projects have included issues as diverse as bringing an optician to discuss eye health, to yoga, to brief intervention talks on smoking and alcoholism.


Whether she is providing a top-quality service to her pharmacies’ patients, or lobbying for a more visible community pharmacy profile, the future of the profession is more than safe in the hands of Sarah Brimstone!


Sarah Brimstone, Randalstown


Pharmacies and Colm Magee, Teva UK


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