A clear and mild day, perfect weather for an afternoon on the course, greeted pharmacists and customers attending the Actavis Golf Day at Belvoir Park Golf Club last month. Teams from across Northern Ireland competed with their clubs in the event and were treated to some beautifully prepared cuisine at the club restaurant that evening.

Congratulations to first place winner Raymond Legge from Sangers and also to pharmacist Brendan Killough, from Carnlough Pharmacy, who came a close second. Michelle McAuley (née Hanna), key account manager for Actavis commented; “It was great to see our customers enjoying the golf at Belvoir Park. The weather was great and the venue was excellent, making for a very enjoyable and successful day.”

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland held its annual Pre-registration Induction Day at Queen’s University Belfast last month and, with a turnout of over 130 pre-reg trainees, it proved to be one of the most successful to date. It also was a memorable occasion for Dr Eileen Scott, who marked her retirement by speaking at the event and also introduced her successor, Lisa Smith, to those attending.
Society president Raymond Anderson opened the afternoon by discussing the role of community pharmacy within wider health sector objectives.

“It is certainly a very challenging time for pharmacy and there are a number of different discussions surrounding services, legislation and other aspects affecting pharmacy,” Raymond said. “The Department of Health in Northern Ireland, and Departments elsewhere, have key strategic goals and pharmacy has a role to play within many areas. Obesity, sexual health, teenage pregnancy, cancer, mental health and cardiovascular disease are all growing arenas for pharmacy.” Raymond, who had just returned that afternoon from discussing the role of pharmacy in chronic conditions management, encouraged young pharmacists to develop specific areas of interest as well as broadening their general experience in practice.

“Whether you are a hospital or community pharmacy pre-reg trainee, there will be opportunities for you to work on or learn about a number of different projects and programmes,” Raymond added. “Within community there is the development of new services such as repeat dispensing, smoking cessation, medicines management and the managing and sales monitoring of POM to P switches. Meanwhile in hospital, the integrated medicines management programme is hugely important to ensure a good level of patient compliance.”

Raymond then emphasised the importance of a pharmacist’s greatest arsenal; their status as a medicines expert. “Pharmacists have the clinical knowledge and expertise in medicines, including ingredients and action, side effects, contraindications, warnings and precautions, interactions and their uses. Moving into the future, boundaries are changing for all professions including pharmacy, nursing and general practice. We need to continue to remember that we are medicines experts and therefore we need to continually keep ourselves up to date with knowledge and skills.”

Bill Scott once said that; “Professionalism cannot be imposed by governments or by regulatory culture. It must emerge and be sustained by the professionals themselves.” The audience of trainees was advised that, although it may seem months away now, when the time comes to register it will bring with it several key commitments to the profession and public health. “You pledge to exercise competency, integrity, morality and altruism and to promote patient safety at all times when in practice,” Raymond continued. “These commitments form the basis of a social contract between pharmacists and the Society and registrants will then embark on a career that will still hold learning very key to its core.  

“CPD encapsulates this. Challenge yourself; do not find yourself ‘settling’ professionally. If you don’t use your professional knowledge you’ll eventually lose it entirely or in part, so when you register your learning should not then stop. Set your standards high now and look forward to continuing to work to high standards.”
Trevor Patterson, director of the Society, gave introductory overview of the regulatory body’s functions, its unique structure as the only one of its kind in the UK. “A fundamental question for regulating bodies is that are we a dead hand, restrictive, policing regulator or are we an enabling force? The public has confidence in healthcare professionals including pharmacists, because they are regulated professions. Pharmacy is moving into a time for professional judgement and the PSNI’s role is to ensure that expertise is built upon. We are here to support you and to publish standards that allow you to develop and to use your professional judgement.”

Tracy Donnelly talked about the correct process for facilitation, documentation, registration and post registration. “Your documentation includes your tutor’s declaration of fitness to register, the registration form and self declarations of health and character,” she explained.  “There are options available for you to register with other regulatory bodies such as PSI or RPSGB, so these are things you may also wish to consider. However, please note the deadlines - don’t be late to register!”

Dr Eileen Scott then discussed the ways of preparing outside of the dispensary, for registration. “There is no limit to the amount of preparation that can be done,” she said. “This could include reading through the documentation that you will have received from the Society surrounding this important year and discussing learning objectives with your tutor. Sit down with them and decide on short and long term goals, with an initial assessment to see where your strengths are and what you can improve. Remember, your tutor still has a pharmacy to run so will not be there to provide a university-style learning. Take ownership and responsibility for your own learning, ask questions and get involved.”

Eileen also referred to the opportunities for extended learning, and had some key advice with which to close her presentation. “Everything from the compulsory training days to self study and your performance standards portfolio are there for you to be the very best professional you can when the time comes to register,” she added. “And of course the examination is a big part of the year, but do not let it dominate things. Enjoy it!”