October 2024 - Community Pharmacy NI

As many pharmacists are already aware, a key aspect of the ongoing reforms to pharmacy education and training, is the increasing time that pharmacy undergraduates must spend on experiential learning (or “EL”) placements in each of the main pharmacy sectors – community, general practice, and hospital. Since the beginning of the EL programme, community pharmacy has been a leading provider and hosted 770 EL placement weeks during the 2023/2024 period.

The sector’s vital contribution will continue in 2024/2025, with over 200 community pharmacies signed up to host EL students. The programme was officially launched by the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Prof. Cathy Harrison on 14^th October, with visits to EL training sites within each sector, including Clear Pharmacy on the Lisburn Road, Belfast.

At the launch Gerard Greene, CPNI Chief Executive spoke of the importance of the community pharmacy sector in supporting pharmacy students: “CPNI is extremely proud that feedback for our sector to date has been so positive, with 91% of students agreeing that their community pharmacy placement helped them feel more confident and competent in their professional skills.

As we all know, learning in theory is essential, but building practical experience and confidence is an equally vital step for the pharmacists of the future. We wish the next cohort of EL students a very productive and enriching experience and hope it allows them to gain an insight into the expanding clinical role of the community pharmacists.”

Further information is available here

A new Living Well campaign – ‘Looking after your sexual health’ – has been launched in community pharmacies across Northern Ireland, helping to raise awareness of the importance of practising good sexual health.

Living Well is offered in over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland and provides information and advice on public health issues. It is delivered in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA), Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI), and the Department of Health (DoH).

Dr Rachel Coyle, Consultant at the PHA, said: “Sexual health and wellbeing is important, and looking after it can have a positive impact on your general mental and physical health and help you develop positive relationships. It is also about having the knowledge and awareness that is relevant throughout different stages of your life, from adolescence onwards, and not just during the reproductive years.

“Contraception is an important part of sexual health and there are lots of different methods available. Knowing how and where to access contraception can help prevent pregnancy.

“However, it is important to remember that while there are many contraceptive options, to also help protect yourself against STIs, you need to use condoms. They are the only method of contraception that help protect against both pregnancy and STIs.”

The campaign key messages include:

Good sexual health means being able to make informed choices about sex and relationships.
Condoms help prevent STIs and unplanned pregnancy.
Not all STIs have symptoms.
If you think you may be at risk of having an STI, get tested.
There are lots of different types of contraception and contraception is available for free across Northern Ireland.

Peter McCavert, Community Pharmacist at Chemist Connect, said: “Community pharmacy is the front door to the health service, and this accessibility is key to raising awareness through the Living Well campaign that is encouraging patients to look after their sexual health. Community pharmacy can offer confidential advice to patients from a healthcare professional without the need to make an appointment.

“Throughout this campaign pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland will promote the importance of looking after your sexual health and, where needed, can advise and signpost patients appropriately for further support and guidance.”

Good sexual health means being able to make informed choices about sex and relationships. For further information and support visit www.sexualhealthni.info

Peter McCavert, Community Pharmacist at Chemist Connect and Dr Rachel Coyle, Consultant at the PHA.