Local community pharmacists honoured at Aisling Awards recognising the best of Belfast

Belfast’s community pharmacy workforce has been recognised at the prestigious Aisling Awards in recognition of their continued commitment to patient care throughout the past twelve months.  

Receiving the ‘Roll of Honour’ award, for those who have repeatedly gone the extra mile for the people of Belfast, a special recognition was given to the city’s community pharmacists for going beyond their day-to-day services to support their patients in communities across the city.

Earlier this year saw the community pharmacy network introduce an Emergency Supply of Medicines Service and a prescription delivery service to provide vulnerable, self-isolating and shielding patients with direct access to their medicines from home.

In taking home this year’s Award, the accessibility of the community pharmacy network was highlighted with the sector now the leading provider of first and second dose Covid-19 vaccinations; as well as a community access point for the flu vaccine and distribution of Lateral Flow Tests, reducing transmission and winter pressures at a pivotal moment for our health service.    

Speaking as he receives the award on behalf of the Belfast pharmacy network, Chair of Community Pharmacy NI, Peter Rice said:

“It’s an incredible honour to accept this year’s Roll of Honour Award on behalf of the community pharmacists of Belfast. During the last twelve months, community pharmacists from right across the city have shown remarkable levels of commitment and dedication to patient care. Whether through the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, which began back in March to the launch of new winter pressure measures to guide us through the months ahead, community pharmacy has been steadfast in its dedication, delivery, and commitment at each stage.

“This has been a year like no other and community pharmacy teams right across Belfast and beyond have been tested like never before. The pandemic brought increased footfall and a spike in demand for services such as the dispensing of medicines. As a sector we recognised at an early stage that this would be a hugely uncertain time for many of our patients and stepped-up services to support those increasingly contacting their local community pharmacy as other parts of the health service became less accessible.

“I want to pay tribute to each and every community pharmacist for continuing to go the extra mile in support of their communities. The hard-work and unyielding commitment to patient care has been the defining characteristic of my colleagues over the last year and it is fantastic for this to be acknowledged in this way.”