G


uests attending the Pharmacy in Focus Awards enjoyed the opportunity to


network with their peers and pay tribute to the outstanding work that is still being done in the community despite the challenging conditions.


This year’s event, which was hosted by BBC correspondent, Mark Simpson, was opened by pharmacy stalwarts Cliff McElhinney and Terry Maguire. Cliff, the outgoing Ulster Chemists’ Association President, immediately acknowledged the current difficulties in the profession.


‘This year,’ he said, ‘has been a tumultuous one in community pharmacy, and the ongoing underfunding of our sector has led to severe financial difficulties for everyone. The impact on many pharmacists - and on their health - has been plain to see. There are those who might see no reason to celebrate this evening, but I say they are wrong. We are not here to celebrate financial success - God knows that would be a very short evening! Rather, we are here to celebrate the outstanding professional services and achievements in our sector. It is vital that we continue to do this.


‘More than ever we need a professional voice that represents us all. The merger between UCA and CPNI will focus our voice in a unified manner.’


At that point Cliff handed over to Terry Maguire, who will play a major role in the ‘professional voice’.


‘Peace,’ Terry assured everyone in his ever-insightful but often humorous way, ‘has broken out. Two key pharmacy bodies, UCA and CPNI, will now merge with the aim of providing ‘one voice’ for the community pharmacy network. There has never been a time when this was more needed. As with all parish politics, the politics of community pharmacy in Northern Ireland – and I’m being kind here – could have been better.


‘The road to the merger has been a long and winding one. In 2010, a previous merger attempt failed, so don’t misunderstand the goodwill necessary in making the current merger happen. I would like to pay


tribute to John Clarke and Paul Cooper from CPNI, who had the vision to see the positives and the negotiations through. I would also like to pay tribute to our ex- president, Cliff McElhinney, who, since taking up the post, has had more comebacks than Elton John. The difference is that Elton picks up a large paypacket when he comes back. During the process Cliff constantly demonstrated an intelligent tenacity that has steered this ship to its preferred destination.


‘The new body must be allowed to function and evolve to support me in my business and you in your businesses, so it must be properly funded. The new UCA will be steered by a board of four pharmacists: myself and Jonathan Lloyd from UCA and two representatives from CPNI. At the same time, four UCA representatives will go onto the CPNI Board.


‘This merger, assuming there is genuine and honest commitment to it from both sides, is a once-in-a- generation opportunity for better politics, leading to a more strategic and sustainable future for community pharmacy.


‘Pharmacy,’ Terry concluded, ‘is a great profession and we have every right to be proud of it.’


Following Terry’s speech, everyone present at Belfast Titanic got the opportunity to hear the reasons why, as he said, we ‘have every right to be proud of it’ as the 2019 Pharmacy in Focus Awards were presented for a range of initiatives and projects that have been carried out throughout the province over the last year:


First up was Stephanie Haughey from McCartan’s Pharmacy in Newry, who picked up the eHealth and Innovation Award for her excellent health literacy project in the city, while Daphne Cooke from Whitehouse Pharmacy in Derry/ Londonderry was over the moon at receiving the Pharmacy Team Member of the Year Award!


Roberta Tasker from Boots Burn Cookstown picked up the prestigious Pharmacist of the Year Award, while Kennedy’s Pharmacy in Rasharkin walked away with the


equally prestigious Pharmacy of the Year Award.


When it comes to customer service, the competition was fierce, but eventually O’Neills Pharmacy in Coalisland and Boots Dungannon were the victors in the Customer Service (1-3 pharmacies) Award and (4+ pharmacies) categories respectively.


For the first time ever, three ‘Chemis’ were awarded to one pharmacy! The team from Bannside Pharmacy in Portglenone were completely shellshocked – but absolutely delighted - at being presented with the Health Promotion, Enterprise within Pharmacy and Working in Partnership Awards in quick succession! The awards were, however, simply the result of the excellent work that is being done in the Mid-Antrim village on a daily basis.


This year’s Pharmacy Hero was Corinna Collum from Lisbellaw Medical Hall. Corinna received this accolade thanks to her standing as the ‘go to’ healthcare person in the Lisbellaw and surrounding areas.


With the nearest GP surgery more than five miles away, the pharmacy is seen as the healthcare hub for the area.


Despite being completely overwhelmed at receiving the award, the very unassuming Corinna managed to go up onto the stage and eloquently describe the pressures that community pharmacists face on a daily basis. The awards ceremony ended with the presentation of the Outstanding Contribution to Pharmacy accolade.


This year’s recipient, Paul Kelly, has made a long and significant contribution to community pharmacy and continues to do so despite no longer practising on a full-time basis!


This year’s event would, of course, not have been possible without the support of the wonderful sponsors, many of whom have provided consistent and highly-valued sponsorship for a number of years now to the Ulster Chemists’ Association.


The category sponsors - Numark, McLernon Computers, KISS Products, EMIS Health, Alliance Healthcare, Sangers AAH, Teva UK, Connect Total Communications, Bestway Medhub & Wardles and the National Pharmacy Association - are to be congratulated and thanked for their support, as are our associated partners; Fujifilm, Lexon and Oasis Travel.


With the formalities over, everyone spent the rest of the evening networking and socialising. Despite the challenges, which this year has presented, it was undoubtedly a great night for Northern Ireland community pharmacy!


This year, the Pharmacy in Focus Awards raised much- needed funds for the UCA’s charity partner, Macmillan Cancer. An amazing £3,260 was raised on the evening for this great charity which does so much for those in the province, who have been affected by this dreadful disease.


PHARMACY IN FOCUS - 31


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