NPA IN FOCUS


Maximise your NPA Membership NPA membership is more than a subscription – it’s an investment in your success. To ensure you are maximising your NPA membership, we want to highlight some of the lesser known ways your NPA membership works harder for you. Beyond core services like training, advice and HR, Health and Safety support, here are several extra benefits designed to help your pharmacy grow, connect, and save.


Business Insights at your fingertips Every month, members receive a Local Market Insights Report straight to their inbox. These reports provide a clear snapshot of your pharmacy’s performance across key metrics – from prescription item growth to GP practice engagement and service delivery.


You’ll also see how you compare with local competitors and industry benchmarks, helping you identify strengths and areas for improvement. With actionable insights on dispensing trends and service claims, these reports make it easier to optimise operations, support patient care and stay competitive.


Access to Trusted Partners Running a successful pharmacy usually means juggling many business functions – from staffing and finance to equipment and utilities. That’s why we’ve built a network of over 40 carefully vetted Trusted Partners. Each partner has been chosen for their reliability, reputation and expertise, giving you confidence that you’re working with suppliers who understand pharmacy.


NPA Connects: Community-Powered Marketing Marketing can be time-consuming and costly – but with NPA Connects, members can save time, money and effort. By joining forces with other members, you benefit from greater purchasing power and reduced costs, while gaining access to easy-to-use tools for: • Direct mail and social media campaigns • Door drops and digital advertising • In-store posters, banners, and more


It’s a simple, effective way to raise awareness, attract new customers and strengthen your local presence.


Cashback Opportunities Membership doesn’t just give you access to services– it also gives money back. Members can earn cashback in several ways, including: • Referring new members • Completing Level 3 Pharmacy Technician training • Completing Level 2 courses


Membership Highlight - Expert advice at your fingertips Running a pharmacy means balancing patient care with the demands of managing people. With NPA membership, you don’t have to face HR or compliance issues alone.


Our dedicated Employment Law, HR and Health & Safety advice line teams are here to provide free, confidential guidance whenever you need it – helping you make the right decisions quickly and with confidence. Resources that save you time.


Anne McAllister Northern Ireland Representation Manager


Every pharmacy needs clear, compliant policies to support both staff and business operations. That’s why we provide a suite of ready-to-use resources, including handbooks, contracts and policies tailored for the sector. No need to start from scratch – everything is designed to help you stay compliant while protecting your team and your business.


Access to essential training with LearningNest NPA members get 90 days’ free access to LearningNest – a trusted eLearning platform packed with workplace courses that strengthen your HR and compliance knowledge. Topics include: • Violence and aggression management • Conducting effective risk assessments • Preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace


Free HR record storage with PeopleNest Keeping track of staff documents doesn’t need to be complicated. With PeopleNest, included free as part of your membership, you can securely store and manage HR records and documents in one place – easy to retrieve, easy to keep compliant.


Winter vaccinations How are your Autumn/Winter 2025/26 vaccination services going? We have updated our resources to ensure they are in line with the latest updates - including support for SOPs, managing consent and record keeping.


LEADERSHIP IN AN EVOLVING LANDSCAPE: Update from Pharmacy Forum NI


As the professional leadership body for pharmacists in Northern Ireland, Pharmacy Forum NI (PFNI) is dedicated to advancing, promoting and supporting the profession to achieve better outcomes for patients.


The pharmacy profession is evolving rapidly. Pharmacists are taking on increasingly varied responsibilities: most will soon qualify to prescribe at the point of registration; growing numbers are becoming designated prescribing practitioners; and pharmacist-led clinical services are expanding across all sectors.


At the same time, the landscape is becoming more complex. The volume of pharmaceuticals continues to grow, regulatory and legislative requirements are evolving, and patient populations are becoming more diverse.


Across Great Britain, professional leadership models are also changing. In March 2025, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) members voted to transition to a Royal College, with completion expected by April 2026.


For the first time, pharmacists will have a leadership body on par with the Royal College of GPs and other medical disciplines.


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Additionally, the RPS has introduced indemnity insurance for members in Great Britain, demonstrating an expanded scope of member support.


These developments prompt an important question: What does this mean for Northern Ireland?


While the outcome is not yet defined, discussions are well underway. The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB), established in October 2023 by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is tasked with shaping a sustainable model of professional leadership for the future.


As a constituent member of the UKPPLAB Board, PFNI is an active participant in this process and will have a seat at the table throughout all discussions.


Working with sector leaders and drawing on best practice from other healthcare professions, PFNI is committed to ensuring that pharmacists in Northern Ireland benefit from the highest standards of professional representation and support. This will require a balanced approach, combining local expertise with the strength of wider professional networks across the UK.


It is clear there is no one size fits all model and no single solution, but PFNI’s priority is clear: to provide Northern Ireland pharmacists with trusted, stable and effective leadership.


To this end, PFNI will remain engaged directly with registrants through profession-wide surveys and will continue to collaborate with our counterparts in Great Britain to ensure that all voices are heard during this period of transition.


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