Started with GP Federations November 2016
East Belfast, Northern Ireland
Masters Degree in Pharmacy, Postgraduate Certificate in Independent Prescribing, working towards Postgraduate Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice.
Lead Practice Based Pharmacist.
I have recently moved into a Lead Role within East Belfast, helping deliver the DOH key priorities for action within my locality and enhancing the role of Practice Pharmacists in Primary Care
As a Practice Pharmacist I have undertaken work in the following areas:
Ensuring GPs are aware of my own personal scope of practice and not expecting me to undertake work that is outside my level of competence.
Effective communication right from the beginning reflecting the skills I can bring to the table as a medicines expert. Adoption of the ABCDE model from i2i helps with this. It allows me to formulate conversations prior to meetings with the GP’s to ensure the message I wish to convey is succinct, clear and not diluted by other agendas. This needs to be an ongoing reflective process, with open lines of communication and an ability to say no or ask for help when appropriate.
Ensuring my skills are used optimally and complement the skills already present in the practice.
With regards to Diabetes, the Practice Nurses and I have an efficient way of working that plays to each-other’s strengths. The nurses undertake the physical assessments necessary for QOF and then refer patients who require their medicines optimised to me. The patients’ love this approach as they can have the key messages reaffirmed twice ensuring they understand. The GPs love it as they are no-longer being interrupted during clinics to make changes to therapy. The nurses love it as they can spend longer on lifestyle interventions knowing that I will deliver the key messages regarding medicines and re-inforce the lifestyle advice.
The most important message I would give to anyone embarking on this career path is develop effective relationships early on, speak up when you have concerns, never be afraid of asking questions and continuously reflect on your scope of practice.
My key priorities for the coming year are:
I have demonstrated impact in a number of ways; I am now an integral member of the LTC management within my practice. I contribute to QOF meetings and ensuring patients are reviewed robustly.
I feel I am an integral part of the team within which I work, colleagues ask me for advice and help with regards to patient management.
I have now developed relationships with patients in the practice and they will routinely book into see me and value my clinical opinion with regard to their clinical management.
The fact that GP colleagues miss me when I go off on a week’s leave and Pharmacist holidays impacts on resource allocation demonstrates how much Practice Pharmacists contribute to enhancing GP capacity.
I am enhancing my ability to manage LTC through the completion of diploma modules in diabetes and cardiovascular risk
I am also keen to develop my personal ability to coach and mentor to enhance my leadership role.
I love the focused approach targeting LTC management, playing to the skills of Pharmacists. Bringing like-minded people, keen to learn from experts in the field into one venue allows you to develop a network of peer support to promote and foster continuous personal development.
Its ok not to know the answer to everything, but rather learn where to go to find the correct answer!