WOMEN IN PHARMACY
women involved at a high level in Scottish healthcare in general – and pharmacy in particular – is making young girls realise that you can go as far as you want in life. Even the fact that the Scottish First Minister is a woman means that girls are looking at her and saying ‘that’s totally possible’. It’s all so positive and, I have to say, very encouraging. My daughters are already discussing how ‘everything is possible’ and how you can achieve as much as you want in life, and I’m so proud to have instilled that in them through my own achievements and by my own example.’
Aileen Bryson, the interim Director for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland, is also very encouraged by the strong role models that Scottish pharmacy is producing, but believes that it is simply a sign of the times.
‘I think we are seeing strong women emerge everywhere at the moment,’ she told SP, ‘and it is a sign of the times. Look at our Chief Medical Officer, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Chief Dental Officer, our First Minister, other political leaders, even the current Prime Minister, Teresa May – all women. There’s no doubt, however, that strong women in pharmacy is ‘on trend’. What we bring to pharmacy is no different to what we bring to any situation; we are simply different to men in many respects. It can be good on occasion to have two different approaches to any issue and a gender balance around the table can often lead to the most successful outcome. I’m very encouraged to see that more women are sticking with their careers and juggling them more successfully with raising a family now, albeit that it’s not always easily done. There’s definitely a move towards more equal sharing of domestic tasks and childcare than in the past, with more women as determined as men to keep rising up the ladder rather than accepting a ‘slipping down’ as might have previously happened. There has always been a large proportion of women entering the profession and I think we are lucky in that there has not traditionally been too much of a glass ceiling in the industry. This has therefore allowed the strong women we see around us to rise according to merit and capability. These very strong role models are setting good examples for the next generation.’
Ironically, it is Aileen’s own success story that has inspired award winner, Bernadette Brown, from
Cadham Pharmacy in Glenrothes in her pharmacy career.
‘Aileen has been inspirational to me,’ says Bernadette. ‘I think that she has always displayed the same qualities as the other women in this feature; qualities which, I hope, I also possess.
‘For a start, they all have a very positive outlook, with passion for our profession and a recognition of the potential that pharmacy has in Scottish healthcare. They influence change by having the vision to see what is needed and the ability – and energy – to bring that vision into reality. They don’t keep this vision to themselves, however. Rather, they
more skills, such as prescribing, to allow them to offer clinics to our local residents. I want to make their dreams a reality at Cadham.’
Bernadette’s reference to her young pharmacists shows the impact that more senior pharmacists and industry leaders can have on those entering the profession; a point reinforced by the winner of this year’s Pharmacist of the Future Award, Charlotte Rigden.
‘When I first moved into pharmacy as a healthcare assistant, I worked with an amazing pharmacist,’ says Charlotte. ‘She was really young, but I was so impressed with how much she already knew. She was
‘WHEN I CAME INTO THIS POST,’ SHE TOLD SP, ‘I FOUND IT VERY POSITIVE TO SEE THAT THERE WERE SO MANY FEMALES IN LEADERSHIP ROLES. AT THE MOMENT IN SCOTLAND, THE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND CHIEF DENTAL OFFICER ARE ALL FEMALE, SO I THINK THAT THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT WOMEN IN SCOTLAND BEING TRAILBLAZERS.
empower others to live that vision and to then showcase to the NHS how pharmacists and their teams can improve the quality of life for many of their patients. They motivate and encourage pharmacists and their teams to become actively involved in helping them to achieve their goals, and focus very much on striving to improve patients’ lives. The ‘can do’ attitude is prevalent throughout Scottish pharmacy and is, in my opinion, particularly driven by the women in the profession. There’s no doubt that they are wonderfully positive advocates of pharmacists in every sector. My young pharmacists, who are all female, have told me that they are inspired on a daily basis by seeing change happening and this encourages them to want to remain in the heart of our communities, gaining
a great person to work with, very supportive and encouraging.
‘Since I started studying pharmacy, I’ve worked with some really inspiring women from all over Scotland, and it’s really driven me to be as involved as I can and make the most of every opportunity! Five years ago, I wouldn’t have thought it possible for me to get through first year, let alone have success at an awards ceremony - so I hope other women out there can take from my example that there really is no limit to your potential! I really love that pharmacy can be whatever you make of it, and if you have ideas and passion, you really can make a difference.’
The final word goes to Patricia Hannam from the North and West Operational Unit at NHS Highland,
and the winner of this year’s eHealth and Innovation in Pharmacy Practice Award, who is not only delighted by the number of women in the profession, but the senior roles that they are increasingly filling.
‘While 60.4 per cent of pharmacists are female (according to the GPhC registrant survey 2013), this high percentage is not automatically expected to reflect in women gaining 60.4 per cent of senior roles. Traditionally in society men predominate in the senior roles and in full-time positions, and women in the part-time roles and in lower grades.
‘In pharmacy in Scotland, however, women are highly visible throughout the pharmacy career spectrum, including the senior roles. This is from the Chief and Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officers, Rose Marie Parr and Alpana Mair; to Sharon Pfleger, consultant in public health and National Clinical Lead Area Drugs and Therapeutics Committee Collaborative; to NES, which is led by women pharmacists; to NHS Highland, where the chief pharmacist, who is male, is supported by a team of lead pharmacists, over 50 per cent of whom are female.
‘Locally, women pharmacists are succeeding in their professional and academic roles, pushing pharmacy forward. They are gaining qualifications in independent prescribing, attaining doctoral qualifications, and leading in research. This will have a ‘halo effect’, raising the bar for females and males alike.
‘From my own perspective, I have found that pharmacy as a career has welcomed women, and made it possible for women to have a good work/life balance. It readily allows staff to take part-time roles which may suit certain periods of their life. This enables staff to remain in their careers so that, when they are ready to commit to further development, the options are available to them. The wealth of educational options and distance learning is beneficial to those who need training support, especially when returning to practice.
‘The fact that both the Pharmacist of the Year and the Pharmacist of the Future are both women is a clear indication of the strong role of women in pharmacy at present and in the future!’ •
SCOTTISH PHARMACIST - 7
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