ULSTER CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION IN FOCUS


President's Welcome I


n the wake of the horrific attack on Paul mcdonagh and Peter Wright on 6 april, the Uca have been


continuing our dialogue with the health & Social care board and with the department of health as to what can be done to ensure the safety of our community pharmacists and their staff.


While the falls road attack was most certainly an extreme form of physical abuse, many community pharmacies – my own included – are increasingly facing verbal abuse on a daily basis. verbal abuse has, unfortunately, become part and parcel of our daily work. It seems that we can go from an initial query with a patient to a full-blown confrontation within a matter of seconds.


I would ask that every one of you takes the time to report all incidents


regardless of how trivial you would consider them to be.


recently, for example, we are witnessing an increase in the number of needles that are being left in public toilets in our area. We have been advised by our local community Liaison officer to report all such incidents to the crime Prevention officer (available on 101 – not 999).


this not only enables the PSnI to identify crime ‘hotspots’, but also provides them – and us - with a record of the increasing number of such events, which we can then present to the board to show what we, as community pharmacists are facing on a daily basis.


the availability of locums is an ongoing issue. the Uca has written


to both the board and the department about the problems with locum cover – a problem which has been exacerbated by the intake of pharmacists by gPs and by the fact that a lot of overseas students are not able to do their pre-registration year here. I am increasingly concerned about the ability of our workforce to be sustained at a level that allows us to provide our first-class service.


on a practical note, the Uca cost reduction service allows our team to provide members with the opportunity to look at overhead payments, such as credit card payments, and utility payments, in order to ensure preferential rates.


this service – which is free to you as a member – is worth its weight in gold – and cash – so why not contact the Uca office to see what we can do for you?


PROMOTING AND PROTECTING COMMUNITY & PRIMARY CARE PHARMACY IN NORTHERN IRELAND


It’s great to see that so many students turned up at the Uca pre- registration event at the Wellington Park on Saturday 17 June. It’s a great event that is invaluable for both students and local companies and I’d like to wish all of the students the best for their future careers in this great profession.


cLIff mcELhInnEY, PrESIdEnt, ULStEr chEmIStS' aSSocIatIon


rEPrESEntatIon PharmacISt’S dIarY by mairead conlon


Phew! cPd all written up and submitted for another year. It’s a lovely feeling to relax and know you have cleared this item off the ‘to-do’ list.


but I amused myself with having already written up my first cycle of 17/18 year on 1 June! that has got to be a record!


I was very excited to be invited to the launch of the ImPact agewell event for the mid and East antrim agewell Partnership. this programme has secured £1,000,000 of investment for a three-year period.


over the course of the morning we were inspired by the projects going on here that include community


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


PharmacY In focUS - 29


pharmacy as a key partner in empowering vulnerable and isolated older people to improve their health and wellbeing. Excellent work by all who are involved.


I am delighted to have helped guide all the preregistration students who attended the Uca training course to passing their exam. this is a testament to all the hard work they put in at our ongoing exam prep sessions each training day.


We provide so much more than a monthly training day. We provide ongoing support and guidance to the student and tutor throughout the training year. I am confident that Sharon mcEvoy and I have helped to


guide a competent and confident group of newly-qualified pharmacists joining the register this summer.


get in touch if you have a new student beginning their preregistration year. We are running the course in cookstown as well as belfast this year, at the request of our members.


I was delighted to host the Uca’s Life after registration Seminar and recruitment event on 17th June. this event was open to every preregistration pharmacist in northern Ireland and also provided a free advertising opportunity for all our members who wish to recruit! read more about the event on page 28.


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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