Deputy First
Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA has thanked community pharmacy teams for their
ongoing commitment and support to patients and wider society during the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The deputy First
Minister met with representatives of the community pharmacy network on Friday
to hear the experiences of pharmacy team across the North during the first wave
of the pandemic.
During the
meeting, Minister O’Neill, who was joined by Sinn Fein colleagues, Francie
Molloy MP, Emma Sheerin MLA and Linda Dillon MLA, heard about the range of
continuing measures community pharmacies have introduced to shield patients
from the virus, while ensuring the on-going safe supply of medicines and the
right clinical advice is given to all within their communities.
The deputy First
Minister, who was Health Minister in 2016, heard of the advancements in new
services being provided by community pharmacies including the flu vaccine
service that has resulted in nearly 17,000 people receiving the flu vaccine
from their local pharmacy this winter.
The delegation
also discussed the plans for the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out through community
pharmacies with the deputy First Minister. Over 300 community pharmacies have
come forward to say that they wish to provide Covid-19 vaccinations which will
start in the coming weeks.
Speaking after
the meeting, deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill MLA said:
“It was a
privilege to speak with the representatives of the community pharmacy network
who have played a vital role on the front line during the past 12 months.
“Many
of us have depended on our local community pharmacists, as they continued to
provide an essential health service to local communities, ensuring medicines
were supplied to the most vulnerable and clinical advice was given to patients
in need.
The deputy First
Minister continued:
“I was
especially pleased to hear about the plans the network has for the roll-out of
the Covid-19 vaccine. The convenience and accessibility of our community
pharmacies will enhance the vaccine programme even further.
“When I was
Health Minister, I signed a memorandum of understanding with the community
pharmacy network, to bring forward a new framework for community pharmacy
services. Since the pandemic, it is clear to me that community pharmacists can
play an even greater role in delivering healthcare to local communities. The
pandemic has only highlighted further their value within both the wider health
service and society as the supportive, accessible, and resilient healthcare
provider we all rely on.
Gerard Greene,
Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI said:
“We welcomed the
opportunity to meet with the deputy First Minister and discuss the pivotal role
community pharmacists have played over the past year in the pandemic response.
“The pressure
faced by pharmacy teams over the past twelve months has been immense.
From tirelessly working extra hours to ensure medicines were sourced and
dispensed to patients and risking their own health on the frontline every day,
the commitment shown by community pharmacy teams has without doubt saved lives.
It is great to see our teams get the recognition they deserve.
“It was terrific
to outline the plans for community pharmacists involvement in the roll-out of
the Covid-19 vaccine programme. The network has the capacity and pharmacists
are clinically trained to vaccinate the public and further contribute to the
pandemic response and improving public health. Through our current engagement
with the Department of Health and Health and Social Care Board, we hope to
start vaccinating the public in the coming weeks.”