Month: May 2022

Health Minister Robin Swann has taken additional steps to help women access vital medicines safely and effectively.

The Minister has today approved additional protocols to provide pharmacists with the flexibility to safely issue appropriate substitute medicines for a number of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products.  

The Department recently authorised a number of Serious Shortage Protocols which enabled pharmacists to limit dispensing of prescriptions for particular HRT products in short supply. This additional step will further empower pharmacists, enabling them to safely offer substitute high-demand products with appropriate alternatives, such as transdermal patches, which are in good supply.

The Minister said: “Women’s health is a priority and it is imperative that women have access to hormone replacement products that are safe and effective.  Today I have approved a number of serious shortage protocols which will allow pharmacists the flexibility to safely offer women appropriate substitutes for HRT products that are currently in short supply.

“My Department has been working closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure HRT is available for everyone who needs it and I am pleased to see early action taken by the HRT Taskforce for the benefit of the whole UK, with suppliers continuing to increase the supply of some products which is a testament to the collaborative approach being taken. 

“I will continue to work with my UK counterparts to ensure the long-term stability of supply for HRT products going forward.”

Appropriate alternative products will be available for Oestrogel, Ovestin cream, Lenzetto transdermal spray and Sandrena gel sachets – with appropriate alternatives, such as transdermal patches, which are in good supply. 

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Cathy Harrison said: “Community pharmacists are ideally placed to support women with their health needs and these protocols give women the option to substitute products when their usual treatment is not available.  This is a safe, effective way to ensure HRT continues to be available for those women who need it to manage their menopausal symptoms.  It is also a vote of confidence in the ability of pharmacy teams to effectively manage supply disruptions and maintain patient care. Anyone who has questions or concerns about HRT should speak to their GP or pharmacist.”

Reacting to the Department of Health’s decision to temporarily allow pharmacists to substitute hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:
 
“The Department of Health’s decision to introduce serious shortage protocols (SSPs) recognises the supply issues with HRT products and that urgent action is needed to support patients at this time. Community pharmacists are ideally placed to support patients requiring HRT and welcomes the SSP arrangements that have been granted to enable suitable alternatives to be provided.
 
This means patients will have timely and continued access to medication as needed, while taking steps to address the lengthy, often distressing waits many patients have been faced with in obtaining their HRT products.
 
“To date, community pharmacists have done their utmost to support patients throughout what is now recognised as a national shortage of HRT products. While it may be the case that patients are given a different product than they are used to, the intent of this policy is protecting continuity of supply of HRT medicines for patients during these challenging times.”

Northern Ireland’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Cathy Harrison has launched a new campaign to highlight the importance of using medicine safely.

‘Know, Check, Ask’ is a simple three-step message to help increase public awareness and understanding about the importance of using medicine safely:

•          KNOW your medicines and keep an up-to-date list
•          CHECK that you are using your medicines in the right way.
•          ASK your healthcare professional if you’re not sure.

Mrs Harrison said: “In Northern Ireland, we are fortunate to benefit from effective systems for the safe prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines. Our health service has developed these robust systems over many years to ensure medication safety is a top priority for everyone receiving and providing care within the health and social system.

“However, we know that errors can still occur and we are committed to supporting improvements that aim to reduce or prevent the risk of harm to patients. The Know, Check, Ask campaign will support that by helping to equip people with the knowledge and skills they need to be safe with medication.

“I’m encouraging everyone who takes medication regularly to be more involved in decisions about their medication and encourage them to report or discuss issues and concerns with a healthcare professional. People should always follow the directions on the medicine label and take medicines at the right dose and at the right time of day. They should never stop, reduce or increase their medicines without asking a healthcare professional and they should never share medicines with others.”

Aisling Elliott, community pharmacist at Clear Pharmacy said: “Keeping a list of medications, including other medicines or supplements you have bought, such as vitamins or herbal medicines, helps community pharmacists, healthcare professionals and care givers know what medicines you are taking.  Bringing an up-to-date list of your medicines to healthcare appointments and the pharmacy visits helps us to give you the best advice and helps you get the best out of your medicines. Some people find it useful to take a photo of their medications list and keep it on their phone or take photographs of their medications with the label in full view”.

In conclusion, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer said: “I am delighted that the Know, Check, Ask campaign is being launched in over 500 community pharmacies across Northern Ireland. The expertise of pharmacists and the accessibility of community pharmacies creates an ideal opportunity for people to ask questions and become more involved in decisions about their medication. 

“This campaign plays a key role in supporting the Department of Health’s strategic plan ‘Transforming Medication Safety in Northern Ireland’ to improve safe practices with medicines and embed a medication safety culture within our population.”

Leaflets are available at local community pharmacies with more information which includes a ‘My Medicines List’ to record your medicines.

By Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI

Coming a little over two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this World Mental Health Week is an opportunity for us to take stock of the mental health of our community pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland. In what has been an extremely challenging period, in which the focus of the health service has largely been on the COVID-19 response, something which tends to get overlooked is that our health care professionals are not immune to mental health issues, and I’d like to draw attention to some of the key pressure points.

As a sector, community pharmacy has been under significant and ongoing workforce pressures for several years now. For many members of the public, it represents the front door to the health service, and with this, the sector is adjusting to increased footfall, staffing shortages and instances of staff burnout. On top of this, the spread of COVID -19 throughout our communities as well as self-isolation rules have placed an additional pressure upon the sector which has meant that all community pharmacy teams have experienced staffing shortages at some point in the last two years. At several points, we have had 30% of pharmacists self-isolating, meaning those still working were doing 70-hour weeks.

From the emergence of the pandemic, community pharmacies across Northern Ireland have been steadfast in their approach and rapid in their response. In addition to carrying out over a million dispensing episodes each week community pharmacy teams introduced services including the COVID -19 vaccination, the distribution of lateral flow testing kits, and the Emergency Supply Service. They worked additional hours, and showed an incredible level of commitment, dedication and professionalism towards their patients and their profession throughout.

This is illustrated well by the fact that community pharmacy in Northern Ireland has administered almost 350,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to date which is a huge achievement and a source of pride for the entire network. What tends to get overlooked is how hard the sector has worked in getting us to this point. In what has been, at times, an uncertain and exhaustive period for primary care, community pharmacy has been at the forefront.

The pandemic has underscored the vital link that exists between community pharmacy teams and their local community. More and more, we are seeing patients calling upon their local community pharmacist as a fixture in managing their everyday health needs. Of course, while this is a hugely positive indication of the direction of travel towards a community-facing model of healthcare, focus must go towards supporting our community pharmacy teams to manage additional post-pandemic demands.

In the long-term, we need to think strategically how we can support and build a robust community pharmacy network. Central to this is the implementation of the Community Pharmacy Workforce Review to ensure the workforce is of the right size and has the right skills. Many instances of burnout, fatigue and stress are a product of a stretched workforce and can be reduced significantly with the right long-term planning.

A major source of anxiety for community pharmacists comes with the worrying levels of abuse and violence inflicted upon the sector by some members of the public. Last year alone, there were reportedly 389 crimes within community pharmacies in Northern Ireland with around 50 of these violent. Regrettably this comes after more than the 1,000 crimes that took place in our community pharmacies in 2019 and 2020.

It was only March of this year during an incident of aggravated burglary, a pharmacist was stabbed and his pharmacy premises damaged. Due to the workforce challenges previously outlined, this community pharmacist had to return to work the following day.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, I would like to appeal directly to members of the public to continue to display the same level of patience and respect that they have done up to this point so that our community pharmacy teams do not have to feel anxious in doing their job. As the statistics show, these are not isolated incidences but unfortunately form part of a worrying trend. In response, a longer-term and concerted approach is needed to support safe staffing.

The last few years have seen the costs of providing community pharmacy services increase significantly. As detailed in a recently commissioned report, there was an increase of 21% in the cost of the between 2014/15 and 2020/21. Once we factor in the increased footfall and the soaring cost of living, we can begin to get a sense of some of the financial pressures that face our contractors.

As Mental Health Awareness Week continues, I want to reflect on the unwavering commitment shown by the entire community pharmacy workforce. Stepping up to meet pressures, they continue to be a source of certainty and provide a continuity of care to patients in their local community. I want to put on record my thanks for their incredible work to date. The last few years have shown that community pharmacy is resilient and strong but it is not unbreakable.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has visited a local community pharmacy to discuss the role of the sector as a key part of the party’s 5-Point Plan for Northern Ireland in the next Assembly mandate.

Speaking to pharmacy staff at Johnston’s Pharmacy in Dromore, the Lagan Valley MP and Assembly candidate discussed his party’s plans to build capacity in the health workforce, as set out in the DUP’s commitments to prioritise primary care for the next five years. The party calls for additional investment to modernise the health service, introduce the latest technology to community pharmacy, and support staff.

Transformation of the health service was also among the talking points as community pharmacies across Lagan Valley and throughout Northern Ireland continue to play an essential role in community-based care. Recent months have seen community pharmacies making the most of their accessibility to deliver over 330,000 COVID-19 vaccinations and over one million lateral flow testing kits while maintaining, on average, one million dispensing episodes each week in Northern Ireland.

DUP leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said:

“It was great to visit Andrew and his team who continue to play an essential role providing the community with accessible health care. As patients from Dromore and the surrounding area have increasingly come to depend on their local community pharmacist, it was important to hear how staff have adapted and stood-up services to meet greater demand. Community pharmacy is an essential part of our health service with so much opportunity to unlock as we look ahead to rebuilding.

“Our plan to fix the health service sets out our commitment to supporting community pharmacy for the next five years. We want to take steps to safeguard our health service into the future, through supporting our workforce and addressing long-term staffing pressures. Our community pharmacists, as frontline healthcare workers, have gone above and beyond what was expected of them and will continue to play an important role.”

General Manager of Johnston’s Pharmacy, Andrew Johnston said:

“Ahead of the election, today was an opportunity for us to highlight the role of community pharmacy up to this point and in the new Assembly mandate. As well as delivering our core services, like the dispensing of medicines, we also provide a range of additional services such as COVID-19 vaccination and Pharmacy First as part of our expanded role in primary care. Our message is that community pharmacy is a solutions provider, and if given the support, can play a focal role in the rebuilding of our health service in the short, medium, and long-term.

“It was encouraging to hear the DUP’s vision for the health service and the focus it places on workforce planning and healthcare transformation. As community pharmacists, we understand the needs of our patients and tirelessly step up to meet their demands. As attention turns to how we can improve our health service, community pharmacy will provide an important contribution to a new, shared healthcare model.”