Supported by


AWARDS PHARMACY HERO I


f ever there was a pharmacist, who is totally focussed on the healthcare issues of her local


community, it is Corrina Collum from Lisbellaw Medical Hall. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that Corrina is this year’s recipient of the Pharmacy Hero accolade!


Corrina received the award for the high degree of dedicated commitment to delivering outstanding service to both her own community and the pharmacy sector in Northern Ireland - a service, which has been vitally important given that the nearest GP surgery is more than five miles away!


The pharmacy, which has serviced the needs of Fermanagh’s second biggest village for eight years, serves an extremely diverse population. In addition to the indigenous inhabitants, many of whom are elderly, there is an increasing number of young families moving into the area as a result of the new homes that are both being built and planned for the future. Factor in the high number of tourists who visit the area each year thanks to attractions ranging from belle Isle to Lough Erne and you can see why Corinna is the more-than-worthy recipient of this award.


From the outset, Corinna has been heavily driven by the desire to meet – and fulfil – the requirements of all of her patients. Lisbellaw is renowned for being community focussed – and it’s not difficult to see why!


For a start, the pharmacy has a high number of elderly patients – particularly in the 80s and 90s age group. Despite this ageing population, however, the local area has no care home and the patients are all looked after in their own homes. As a result, Lisbellaw Medical


CORRINA COLLUM, LISBELLAW MEDICAL HALL, LISBELLAW


Hall is responsible for between 50 and 60 deliveries per week, so Corinna has to ensure that this cohort of patients is taken care of in addition to those, who can make it into the pharmacy each week.


At the other end of the age spectrum are the high numbers of young mothers with babies – many of whom also find it difficult to leave the house. Corinna endeavours to ensure that deliveries to these patients are also readily available.


Twice in the last couple of years, Corinna and her team have been involved in emergency situations which required a defibrillator – one in the pharmacy and one at a local sporting event. As a result, Corinna now carries a defibrillator in the van at all times to pre-empt any further situations. The pharmacy also funded a box to house a defibrillator worth £450 in the local Tamlaght community and this was advertised in the local newspaper the following week to bring it to the attention of the village residents.


Corinna is fully cognisant of the fact that she and her pharmacy staff are often the only people that patients will speak to all day and so she wants every member of staff to not only be able to provide excellent service in terms of explaining medication and discussing any queries that patients may have, but also to be able to have a chat with patients about any concerns they may have or to assess their mental health.


In practical terms, the amount that Corrina provides in terms of health promotion to the community is outstanding For many years now, she has facilitated a broad range of community projects, not only under the umbrella of building Community Pharmacy Partnership, but also in


Colin Dowds, Group Finance Director, Connect Total Communications with Corinna Collum from Lisbellaw Medical Hall


From the outset, Corinna has been heavily driven by the desire to meet – and fulfil – the requirements of all of her patients. Lisbellaw is renowned for being community focussed – and it’s not difficult to see why!


projects in conjunction with groups such as Cruse bereavement Care. This is in addition to her regular charity fundraising and sponsorship of local youth sports teams.


Throughout her pharmacy career, Corinna Collum has demonstrated an inspirational work ethic. Her interaction with the community goes above and beyond what is expected of a community pharmacy and she is


truly the ‘go-to’ person for the healthcare needs of her community.


Of course, the ever-modest Corrina wants to give credit to her team for the support that they give her on a daily basis; support, which allows her to provide a holistic health service to her patients, and one which makes Lisbellaw Medical Hall the ‘go to’ place for healthcare in the local area. As such, she is an inspiration to all other pharmacists.


PHARMACY IN FOCUS - 45


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