NUMARK
Points of view
nUmarK PharmacY DEVELoPmEnt managEr, John mUrPhY, taLKS aBoUt ISSUES In northErn IrELanD, WhILE rEgIonaL SaLES managEr, WaYnE harrISon, DIScUSSES SomE of thE BEnEfItS of BELongIng to nUmarK.
That’s the spirit
By John Murphy Usually I start these blogs on quite a pessimistic note, probably as result of the current financial austerity measures that have been thrown at primary healthcare.
In England contractors will have to absorb a four per cent cut, but, in real terms from December 2016 to march 2018, the cut will equate to 7.4 per cent. In northern Ireland they have seen a huge global sum reduction from £130 million to £90 million, but, despite this, I have been impressed and delighted how community pharmacy has shown great entrepreneurial skills in offering an excellent level of primary care.
David cameron was a strong advocate of the political ideology ‘the big society’ during the conservative 2010 election campaign. the idea proposes ‘integrating the free market with a theory of social solidarity based on hierarchy and voluntarism’. Its aim was to create a climate that empowered local people and communities.
36 - PharmacY In focUS
Building a ‘big society’ would take power away from politicians and give it to people. In certain quarters this was met with some scepticism, and there was a general consensus that it was just an excuse to save money at a time where there are public funding cuts.
this got me thinking. has community pharmacy subliminally entered into the epoch of ‘the big society’? the high values that the general public have of community pharmacy are second to none and, by its very definition, is seen as a focal point of the community.
Due to funding cuts, pharmacy has evolved. the variables have changed and this can be seen from a commercial point of view. retail has become a very significant part of pharmacy and -importantly - pharmacy owners have realised that this gateway to attract prospective customers to their business.
retail can be defined in many ways. one of them is to create an ambience that illustrates professional healthcare, with clear and concise layouts of both P and gSL medicines, and merchandising and sales information that focuses on the patient and their therapeutic segment.
the most prevalent shift I have seen in the opinion of pharmacy is that the ‘local chemists’ can do a lot more besides the very crucial role of dispensing nhS prescriptions.
John Murphy
the value-added advice from pharmacists, medicine counter assistants etc has been invaluable to the public. mUrs, minor ailments and smoking cessation clinics are all financially beneficial services rewarded by our departments and, without question, these are carried out with the utmost integrity and professionalism.
however, it is the unseen day-to-day warmth, knowledge and ‘going that extra mile’ attitude for their customers and the community that never fail to impress me. this is illustrated through the help and
advice given in society to our most vulnerable patients – for example, those with dementia – and those who rely on multiple dispensing trays.
So there we have it. the ‘big society’ exists after all, epitomised superlatively by our local pharmacies. It is something that our health authorities up and down the country should take into consideration the next time they are thinking of adding more cuts. they should also ask themselves this vital question. What sort of community would be left if it lost its ‘local chemist’?
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