NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE WHEN YOU STEP INTO PROACTIVE HEALTHCARE
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CASE STUDY: Melvin Pharmacy’s Journey to Private Services Pharmacy in Focus spoke with Siobhan McNulty of Melvin Pharmacy in Garrison, who has successfully built a diverse private service offering in response to local demand.
What motivated you to start offering private clinical services? “We started weight management clinics initially for patient safety,” Siobhan explains. “Patients were coming in with medication they had bought online and didn’t know how to use. Setting up a structured service happened almost organically.” Seeing the unmet need, the pharmacy quickly expanded into blood testing, offering access to checks like vitamin D, cholesterol, and HbA1c at a time when local services were overstretched. Results are emailed to patients with explanations and Qrisk scores, helping them make informed decisions with their GP.”
Which services have been most in demand? “The response was incredible; we now have nearly 50 patients in our weight management programme and a waiting list. Others continue to return for prescriptions and follow-up support.”
How do you structure your team to deliver these services effectively? “To run these services properly, you really need two pharmacists or a pharmacist and a technician. You also need the buy-in from everyone. Our team includes two full-time pharmacists, a part-time locum, a dispensing assistant, and two counter assistants, all trained to respond to patient queries.
“Nothing undermines a service more than confusion or interruptions. Patients expect the same professionalism they would receive in any other clinical setting.”
Training and Upskilling: Investing in Your Team For Siobhan, training has been key - completing specialist weight management training, attending conferences, and pursuing further learning expanded their scope.
Staff training is continuous. All team members have been trained on how to handle queries about new services and have upskilled in other areas to maintain smooth dispensing and OTC support.
Has technology played a role in scaling your private services? “Digital tools have been pivotal. I invested in an interactive website, and booking system partly funded by a grant covering 70% of the cost. All blood testing appointments are booked online, while prospective weight management patients are triaged by phone to confirm eligibility. Simple tools like Microsoft Calendar help manage schedules and appointments. For our women’s health service, I am researching secure clinical systems to protect sensitive patient data. Technology has made it so much easier for patients and our team and if you can get funding support, it’s absolutely worth the investment.”
Advice for Getting Started Siobhan’s message to other pharmacists and technicians is clear “Take a leap of faith. You are a highly skilled professional. The frameworks and PGDs are well-structured, and you can absolutely do this.”
Her key recommendations: • Agree roles upfront. Decide who will handle prescriptions and walk-ins while clinics are running.
• Invest in the right training. From clinical skills to patient communication, quality training builds confidence.
• Create a professional environment. A dedicated consultation room and uninterrupted time are essential for credibility.
• Start small, then grow. Focus on one or two services you can deliver well before expanding.
“Never underestimate the impact you can have when you step into proactive healthcare. Patients see pharmacists differently when you deliver services at this level.”
Community pharmacy in Northern Ireland needs new solutions. Private services won’t solve every problem, but they are a step toward resilience, autonomy and sustainability.
If you are ready to explore what private services could look like in your pharmacy, come along to the NI Pharmacy Brunch.
Check out the back page of the magazine to book your place. Your next step starts here.
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