UCA-NI NEWS
UCA-NI SERVICE SUPPORT PILOT
Representation Pharmacist, Mairead Conlon, is currently piloting a service to better understand and support pharmacies with delivery of commissioned services. Mairead has been engaging with a number of pharmacies in the South-Eastern area on the range of pharmacy services they are currently offering to the public.
Mairead will look at how staff are delivering services during the pandemic, and any particular challenges they may have encountered in delivering the service. She is also hoping to capture examples of excellence in practice which have enabled pharmacies to deliver services successfully.
Mairead will work closely with the whole team to try to overcome challenges, and implement best practice, so that pharmacies can optimise their service delivery to their local communities.
As community pharmacy’s role in delivering services to the public is vital in improving the overall health and well-being of our local populations, it is important that we better understand some of the challenges encountered in managing a heavy workload and delivering services at the frontline. This information is vital in providing valuable insights for future service delivery.
PRE-REG LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
The last three Zoom sessions have concentrated on leadership and building resilience – both in terms of handling difficult situations in the pharmacy, to self-development and professional growth – with fantastic presentations from experienced pharmacists Patricia Finnegan, Philip Boyle and Gareth McCabe. Sharon Bell, PASS Manager at the Pharmacy Forum, outlined what help is available from the Pharmacists’ Advice and Support Service: an excellent resource for current and past members of the profession.
FOUNDATION PLACEMENT RECRUITMENT GUIDE
The UCA-NI Guide to pre-registration placement opportunities for 2022-23 was launched in January with a new interactive format.
Thanks to our publishers, Profile Publishing, UCA-NI was able to create an e-guide which could be distributed to third and fourth-year undergraduates across the UK online.
Launching the 2022-23 Guide, UCA-NI also gave presentations to undergraduates at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast on the recruitment process whilst also promoting placements and careers in community pharmacy.
As we learn more about the reforms to the initial education and training of pharmacists, more clarity has been provided about the placement year going forward.
It is not envisaged that there will be wholesale change to the recruitment and employment process in the foreseeable future, but UCA-NI will, of course, keep a close eye on developments.
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pharmacyinfocus.com The ch hoice is yours…
PLACEMENT GUIDE
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KATHRYN MCKITTRICK Former UCA employee Kathryn McKittrick sadly passed away in December following a short illness. Katie was also known to many of you from her 30+ years at BSO. After ‘retiring’ from BSO she was delighted to return to supporting pharmacies with their prescription coding through the Ulster Chemists’ Association. Katie was a much-loved friend and colleague and she is greatly missed by current and former members of the team.
UCA-NI VALPROATE
PROJECT An article in the December edition of Pharmaceutical Journal challenged pharmacy to do more to ensure that women of child-bearing potential are fully aware of the risks of taking valproate during pregnancy. A recent survey by epilepsy charities found that eleven per cent of women, who are currently taking the epilepsy medicine valproate, are unaware of the possible risk of birth defects if taken in pregnancy.
UCA-NI accepted the challenge laid down and is enlisting the help of pre-registration pharmacists to participate in a project to identify women taking this medication and to reach out and have that conversation with them. This is an excellent opportunity for pre-registration pharmacists to participate and develop their skills such as audit, service planning and delivery, networking with other healthcare professionals, cascade training and patient counselling.
With restricted access to GPs and specialists during the pandemic, this project offers a unique opportunity to make what could be a vital contribution to the ongoing care of these women. We are looking forward to reviewing the findings which we hope to share with stakeholders.
To find out more, contact
adrienne@uca.org.uk Page 1
UCA-NI LTD T
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