ULSTER CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION IN FOCUS


president's welcome w


elcome to the January edition of UcA in focus. this year sees a


lot of potential change in community pharmacy.


Not only are we seeing huge financial pressures on pharmacy - through the clawbacks of payments via BSo - but we still have no representative government in Northern Ireland and this has led to NI pharmacy again spending last year treading water last year whilst service provision elsewhere in great Britain moves forward, albeit with similar financial pressures in England.


Now, more than ever, it is vital that community pharmacy is heard with a strong unified


voice. It is important that the Department of health and the health & Social Board know that pharmacy is serious in its aspiration to continue to deliver a quality, professional service.


on another positive note, it has been reported that legislation is now being presented to parliament to decriminalise dispensing errors. this is a cause that I highlighted at last year’s president’s Ball and pharmacy in focus Awards and I am pleased to see movement on the issue.


I can only hope that the bill passes through parliament and is implemented quickly. the culture of reporting incidents can only be fully useful when this happens.


pharmacy has always had patient safety as one of its core objectives and this will enhance that objective.


It is now also time to ask government to look again at recent convictions in this area and issue an unconditional pardon to the pharmacists concerned.


criminal records for inadvertent dispensing errors were not what the outdated legislation was put on the statute books for!


this year’s UcA president’s Ball has a great change of venue: right in the heart of Belfast’s titanic Quarter!


REpRESENtAtIoN phARmAcISt’S DIARY by mairead conlon


I hope that you have all had a busy and prosperous christmas and New Year period and had the opportunity to enjoy having a few days off with family and friends.


I am very much looking forward to seeing many of you at the UcA’s president’s Ball at the end of January.


this year, the standard of entries for the pharmacy in focus awards has set the bar higher and higher. It will be very exciting to see who our winners will be!


within our profession we really do have a huge number of


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


phARmAcY IN focUS - 35


genuinely dedicated people and we should be very proud of that. the event is a great opportunity to say how proud we are of all the great work done over the course of the year.


2018 sees the beginning of the UcA’s new charity partnership with Addiction NI. I am sure you will all agree that, given the current climate in Northern Ireland, it is a natural fit.


we look forward to drawing on Addiction NI’s support and expertise to educate and inform our pharmacy teams throughout the year as they will deliver training at our UcA


local events across the province, as well as our pre-reg training.


If you are interested in getting involved (and maybe burning off a little bit of your christmas indulgence!), Addiction NI have a 10km run on Sunday 4 march 2018 in ormeau park. how about that for a New Year’s resolution?


I will send you through more details about this closer to the time, but, for now, get outside and start your training!


I hope that 2018 is a good one for all of our pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland.


As you know, 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


PROMOTING AND PROTECTING COMMUNITY & PRIMARY CARE PHARMACY IN NORTHERN IRELAND


I look forward to seeing and talking to as many of you as possible on the night.


I wish all our finalists in the pharmacy in focus Awards good luck and look forward to another great night, highlighting the excellence in community pharmacy. happy New Year!


clIff mcElhINNEY, pRESIDENt, UlStER chEmIStS' ASSocIAtIoN


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