Category: News

Following the Assembly Health Committee on Thursday 20th May, Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI) the representative body of community pharmacies in Northern Ireland is calling for the Department of Health to take a holistic view of primary care and community services to ensure that people have access to appropriate health services as and when they need.

Mindful of the huge pressures across primary care, including difficulties being experienced by many patients getting through to their local GP, CPNI believe now is the time for a new approach to accessing health care.

Speaking during the session, Deputy Chair of the Health Committee Pam Cameron MLA noted anecdotally that it took her around 125 attempts to get through to her local GP, a trend that is all too common within the current system.

Community pharmacies already see around 123,000 people (9% of the population) everyday throughout Northern Ireland and with investment would have capacity to take on further responsibilities, reduce the severe bottlenecks seen in general practice and maximise the use of over 530 community pharmacies located across Northern Ireland.

Chair of the CPNI Board, James McCaughan, who runs McCaughan Chemist in Ballycastle said:

“The answer is not to just invest more in general practice; it has to run much deeper than that. The Department needs to conduct a review of the whole system and how it is currently operating. It needs to take account of where there is capacity, where investment should be concentrated, and how we can support GPs to continue to provide timely care to sick patients.  

“What is abundantly clear throughout the pandemic is that the current system just is not working for patients. Community pharmacy has built strong working relationships with our colleagues in general practice, we now need to see the Department working to ensure that we can get the best possible outcomes at this time with the health service stretched to its absolute limit.

“I was astounded to hear one MLA recall having to make well over 100 calls to their local GP before getting through, whilst another member told the committee about a constituent being directed to the Emergency Department for a throat issue which, along with so many minor ailments, can be treated through community pharmacy.”

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

“While there are pressures in general practice, we in Community Pharmacy have been experiencing similar and additional issues and consequently dealing with a significantly increased workload. However, as we start to come out of COVID we have reached a point where something simply must be done to address the issues and improve patient access to health care.

“If we are seriously committed to the transformation of the health service, we need to start to think strategically about investment and resources to make our services work properly as soon as possible and displace the bottlenecking at GP surgeries.

“Community pharmacists have helped deliver the annual winter flu vaccination programme, the Covid-19 vaccination, and other minor ailment services that can keep people away from GP waiting lines, a point recognised by the Chair of the Health Committee, Mr Colm Gildernew. Through a collaborative approach between GPs, community pharmacy and the Department, a new way of working can and must be found.”

As part of the Pharmacy Futures NI search and recruitment campaign, Pharmacy Forum NI have been engaging with NI post-primary schools, encouraging students to make pharmacy their career of choice. A new activity is a virtual Pharmacy Careers Showcase – which has been produced with the help of Pharmacy Futures NI champions and is now live and available to watch at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSrBom8PTAo

Lasting just 30 minutes and hosted by Cool FM’s Rebecca McKinney, this engaging production is designed to give pupils an insight into the exciting world of Pharmacy as a career in Northern Ireland – from studying Pharmacy at university to practising as a Pharmacist. The production is ideally suited to pupils currently studying chemistry and other subjects for GCSE, AS or A-Level and considering a potential career in healthcare or chemistry-related discipline. Pupils don’t need to register for the event and it can be viewed at any time, from any location – be it during a Careers or Chemistry lesson in school, or from the comfort of their own home with their parents or friends.

The video is available to download along with the full range of Pharmacy Futures NI campaign resources at www.pharmacyfuturesni.com  Images related to the event are also attached.

The community pharmacy network across Northern Ireland has administered over 35,000 Covid-19 vaccines in the first weeks of the roll-out.

At the end of March, 340 community pharmacies were given the green light to begin inoculating the public against Covid-19. Since then, local pharmacies have seen a high demand for the vaccine, with many running out of their allocated supply within the first two weeks of the roll-out.

Local pharmacies are hoping to see a greater supply of the vaccine delivered to them in coming weeks as current levels of the AstraZeneca vaccine are low, with many community pharmacists seeing long waiting lists of patients emerging.

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

“Bringing community pharmacy into the Covid-19 vaccination programme has vastly improved access to the vaccine on the high streets of our towns, cities, and villages throughout Northern Ireland. Patients have had the option to receive their vaccine from a convenient and familiar health care professional, that they know and trust. The feedback we have been receiving is that patients really welcome the vaccine being available from pharmacies and that is tremendous endorsement for the service.

“Community pharmacies are the best places to reach the public including those in hard-to-reach communities and those in disadvantaged areas. With the level of pharmacies administering the vaccine, no eligible person should have far to travel to become protected against Covid-19.

“Vaccine supply has been limited, and we thank the public for their patience while we wait for more supplies to be delivered. Once the supply improves, we expect numbers to grow further and are engaging with the Department of Health to ensure a greater amount of vaccine is supplied to community pharmacies.

“I would encourage anyone eligible to book your vaccine with your local community pharmacy.”

Community Pharmacist, Sheelin McKeagney, said:

“It has been great to be able to vaccinate our own patients and the familiar faces that we see every day. We know many of our patients prefer not to travel too far to get their vaccine, particularly those in rural areas where it is just not as easy to get to larger vaccination centres.

“The one frustration has been having to turn some patients away due to the restricted amount of vaccine we have been supplied. Given our capacity to do this, we hope to see more vaccine become available in the coming weeks. We have a waiting list of people who want vaccinated by their local pharmacist and we want to fulfil that demand. 

“Being part of the vaccine programme has been a real positive lift for both staff and our patients. Since the roll-out began, patients have commented that the convenience of getting the vaccine at their local pharmacy is a benefit as it means they can get vaccinated at a convenient time that suits them from a clinician they know locally. We are also delighted to be able to offer the vaccine as it means we are able to support our patients and relieve any concerns or anxieties they have.”

To find your closest vaccinating community pharmacy: https://covid-19.hscni.net/community-pharmacy-covid-19-vaccination-service/

The vaccine programme in Northern Ireland has fully opened for those aged 35 to 39. Anyone born between 01/04/81 and 30/04/86 can book an appointment at a regional vaccination centre or participating community pharmacy. However, where online booking is not possible, the telephone booking number is 0300 200 7813. Details of participating pharmacies and how to book are online.

Health Minister Robin Swann said:

“I can announce formally that from tomorrow we will fully open up the vaccination programme in Northern Ireland for all those aged over 35. I know this will be welcome news for those in this age group and I would urge people to book a vaccination appointment as soon as possible.

“This week we will see further easing of restrictions with the re-opening of non-essential retail, gyms, leisure facilities and some tourist accommodation. These easements have only been possible because of the success of the vaccination programme, coupled with the actions of the general public. Therefore I would appeal to everyone who is eligible for vaccination to get an appointment booked. I know there are some younger people that think they don’t need the vaccine but we have seen what this virus can do. So please protect yourself and get the vaccine.

“Vaccination is absolutely vital in helping us move through this pandemic. There is no doubt that there are people in Northern Ireland alive today because they have been vaccinated.”

People making bookings are asked to be patient, as demand for appointments is expected to be strong.

The ongoing roll-out of the vaccination programme will continue to be dependent on the availability of vaccine supplies.

By Pam Cameron MLA, Deputy Chair of the Health Committee and Chair of the All-Party Group on Community Pharmacy

The vaccination programme has been the beacon of hope we have all needed over the last number of months. Now that local pharmacists across the whole of Northern Ireland are administering the vaccine to their communities, we have even more hope of brighter days.

As Chair of the Assembly’s All-Party Group on Community Pharmacy, I was thrilled to see community pharmacies getting the green light to begin vaccinating the public against Covid-19 at the end last month.

Having the vaccine available on our high streets and in our communities is a hugely significant development as we take steps towards the return of normal life.

With nearly 350 community pharmacies in Northern Ireland involved, the vaccine is being delivered to eligible groups across Northern Ireland, taking our already brilliant vaccination programme up an extra gear.

This will of course be especially welcome news for those who might feel hesitant or have difficulties travelling to one of the mass vaccination centres. I was really heartened to hear an update from Community Pharmacy NI on the rollout of the vaccine at the most recent meeting of the All-Party Group on Community Pharmacy last week.

From a standing start and with a total stock of around 27,000 vaccines, community pharmacies have come on strongly to the vaccination programme. To date, a total of 12,000 first doses have taken place, 5,000 of these in the first week alone.

In little over two weeks since the service was launched, community pharmacy is reaching the halfway point in their stocks which just goes to show the demand for the service in our communities.

I have been really impressed to hear how well they have put in place the arrangements to get to this point so quickly. Eligible patients are able to use an interactive map to locate the most convenient participating pharmacy https://covid-19.hscni.net/community-pharmacy-covid-19-vaccination-service/ and this will also facilitate online booking in many pharmacies.

This is all the more impressive given the service was trialed, tested and implemented whilst the pandemic persists, and community pharmacists continue to see a surge in footfall and demand for services such as prescription medications.

The Health Minister demonstrated this ease of access when he, along with thousands of others, opted to receive his vaccine from a local community pharmacy.

As the vaccination programme moves into its next phase and expands to the wider population, accessibility and convenience are only going to become more important. The success of the vaccine rollout through community pharmacy to date is another key win on the road to getting life back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced his support for a community pharmacy commissioning plan for 2021-22.

The Department of Health, working closely with the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Community Pharmacy NI, the representative body for community pharmacy, have reached agreement on a commissioning plan for community pharmacy services for the year ahead.

Following a meeting today with the HSCB and Community Pharmacy NI, Health Minister Robin Swann said: “Community pharmacies have been playing a pivotal role in delivering health services to communities in Northern Ireland during the pandemic and it is clear that there is a very high level of public confidence in the professionalism and dedication shown by community pharmacies during what has been an extremely challenging year.

“I am very pleased to give my support to a community pharmacy commissioning plan for 2021-22 which builds on the agreement reached on last year and provides a coherent structure for the provision of community pharmacy services over the next 12 months.”

Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland said: “Community Pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland have been invaluable in supporting patients and the health service throughout Covid. This year’s Commissioning Plan builds further on the services provided last year and it delivers further enhancements that will benefit and support patients over the coming 12 months. Community Pharmacy will play a central role in the rebuilding of the health service as we start to emerge from Covid and it is significant to have Ministerial, Health Service and Community Pharmacy support for this as well. This is another positive day for patients and the services they will receive from their local community pharmacy.”

Closely aligned with the health needs of local communities and the HSC, the focus in this year’s commissioning plan will be on provision of accessible services for the safe supply and use of medicines, activities to promote good physical and mental health, vaccination services, first point of contact for advice and treatment of common illnesses and support for patients in care homes and those receiving end of life care.

Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer at the Department of Health said: “Community pharmacies are the most accessible part of our health and social care service. This year’s agreement recognises the valued contribution that pharmacists and pharmacy staff in local communities have made and continue to make to the Covid pandemic response and recovery. Its delivery will help ensure that the public will be able to avail of high quality, professional advice and services from pharmacies across Northern Ireland.”

Joe Brogan, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Health and Social Care Board said: “Our population has suffered substantially from the Covid pandemic. We also know that there were already significant health challenges facing society. The pandemic has exacerbated this need. During the emergency response to the pandemic, community pharmacy services were hugely important and through the 21/22 commissioning plan we have agreed, we wish to expand and develop services that not only respond to the health needs of our community but also develop interventions which improve health and wellbeing using the excellent resource that we have in our pharmacies.”

Minister Swann concluded: “In looking to the future, it is important that we continue to work together to consolidate and build on the significant successes we have had and continue to have.”