ULSTER CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION IN FOCUS


President's Welcome T


he violent stabbing of my two pharmacist colleagues in a west Belfast pharmacy has rightly


shocked the community pharmacy network. I am delighted to report that both Peter Wright and Paul McDonagh were back at work within the week. A true sign of their vocation!


The attack has made us feel very vulnerable carrying out our normal service to the public at large. not only contractors, but pharmacists, technicians and all our staff members feel at risk. This was the most recent and most violent attack carried out in a pharmacy, but it was not a one-off incident. Both my own pharmacy and that of CPnI chairperson, Paul Cooper, have suffered recent armed robberies. There are also the almost daily verbal attacks many pharmacists suffer as they carry out their duties. It would not be allowed in a casualty department or gP surgery.


A statement to that effect from the Department that this type of behaviour is unacceptable in pharmacy is necessary.


There have been calls for tighter security measures to safe guard both the workforce and the public when they visit a pharmacy. our accessibility on the high street is our strength. Any safety measures should be proportionate. I for one, do not want to work behind a glass wall. I value my interaction with patients and customers. With this in mind, I was pleased to be part of a pharmacy delegation which met with Mark Timoney and Joe Brogan to discuss the recent spate of attacks. representatives from Pharmacy forum, CPnI and UCA agreed a joint response and the meeting with the health board and department achieved recognition that funding was required to tackle the problem. A survey will be conducted shortly to


ascertain the levels of security already in place in pharmacy, and UCA hopes that a range of solutions will be made available. CCTV upgrades, larger safes (to store tramadol etc), door buzzers and links to the police service are all possible deterrents, but they are not suitable for every location. Make your views known and the range of solutions can be presented to the Department of health.


There is of course a wider issue here too. The prescription drug problem in urban areas is seemingly out of control. Prescriptions for tramadol, pregabalin and gabapentin seem to increase daily, as do our stock levels. The number of mentally ill patients without proper care (be it hospital or community) also increases. A recent report in the Independent newspaper on 22 April highlighted the loss of hospital beds for mental illness and the increase in the number of mentally ill patients in the prison population and, by inference, the community. These vulnerable people frequently see the pharmacist as the last healthcare professional in the


PROMOTING AND PROTECTING COMMUNITY & PRIMARY CARE PHARMACY IN NORTHERN IRELAND


medicine chain. We all know the patient who struggles with their medication and visits the pharmacy three to four times per day to ‘check in’. There are those at the other end of this spectrum who are frustrated and unstable, and this is where the verbal and physical violence towards pharmacy comes in.


These are big topics, but pharmacy must be involved in the discussion, because so often we see or bear the brunt of the consequences from drug abuse and mental illness. If you get the chance in the upcoming election campaign, ask the difficult questions to the candidates. Put forward community pharmacy’s case. I have great hope for pharmacy leadership, when all the relevant bodies in northern Ireland can come together. I can only keep my fingers crossed that we see some political leadership soon for community pharmacy.


ClIff MCElhInnEy, PrESIDEnT, UlSTEr ChEMISTS' ASSoCIATIon


rEPrESEnTATIon PhArMACIST’S DIAry by Mairead Conlon


over the last couple of months, a lot of my time has been spent working with our pre-registration pharmacists. As well as four training dates over March and April, I have also been on hand to work with tutors and students who have needed extra support, guidance and clarification as they approach the exam in June.


With Sharon McEvoy’s expertise and tutor feedback from our survey, we have shaped the course we will offer to the next group of pre-reg students. one thing you asked for is an alternative to Belfast as a training venue. We listened and it makes sense, so we are pleased to offer training in Cookstown in 2017-18.


That is what sets the newly- transformed UCA course apart from other training providers. I get to know the students and offer ongoing support throughout the year to both tutor and student, and can make this course exactly what you, as tutors, want it to be.


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


our current students will now approach the registration exam with lots of exam preparation, but in another few weeks they will be also be confident and competent pharmacists as they join us on the register.


In April, I attended the PSnI Pre- registration Tutor reaccreditation course, and it was very clear that everyone else in the room was equally passionate about doing a good job in supporting their trainees. I am very passionate about doing the best I can to offer the exam preparation - as well as the practical experience - to reinforce the knowledge our students have, so we have very capable new pharmacists registering in the summer, ready to practise.


UCA will host a ‘life after registration’ seminar on 17 June in the Wellington Park hotel. This seminar is free for all pre-registration pharmacists to attend and will offer opportunities to prepare the


newly-qualified pharmacists for their career ahead.


UCA’s Pre-registration Training Programme for 2017-18 is now open for registration. If you have any questions or wish to book a place, please do not hesitate to contact me. It was great getting to see a number of you at our UCA local meetings in newry and Enniskillen - I’m sure you will agree that the topics covered were of an extremely high standard and offered very welcome CPD material. I look forward to facilitating more of these events throughout the year.


Don’t forget to read the Pharmacist representation group’s ‘Ten questions with Kathy Martin’- such an interesting lady doing an excellent job with the BCPP projects, and I would encourage all pharmacists to get involved.


finally, it was good to see many of you at the PPrB’s ‘Inspiring Change’


event on 9 May. Through collaboration between all the representative bodies, we hope we organised an exciting and innovative event to improve our practice as community pharmacists.


My role is shaped by the needs of our members - so if you need me, please do not hesitate to get in contact and I will endeavour to help!


Contact the UCA office on 02890656576 or email Mairead@uca.org.uk


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