In November 2019 Bannside Pharmacy in Portglenone won the Neighbourhood Retailer Community Pharmacy of the Year Award. In a hotly contested category, owner and pharmacist Eoghan O’Brien was delighted with the recognition.

“It’s always a boost to win an award – but as this award is based on the findings of a mystery shopper – an independent person from an experienced and reputable company – we were so pleased. It was great to get the feedback whether you win or not – and if the team know a mystery shopper may come in, it helps us to up our game a bit. It’s certainly a good process.

Guidance

“We concentrate on giving the best possible service to all our customers. I would say we know over 80% of them by first name. We focus on giving them the best guidance we can – I prefer the word guidance to advice – as we like to help them find their way. This usually gives better outcomes.

“We have an important role to play in health promotion and prevention – so it’s a dialogue with the customer, not just a monologue. We can encourage people to look after their own health – by taking time to look at their lifestyle – the importance of physical activity and diet. Stress is another big factor in health and well being, and I think we’ve been seeing a lot more stress related illness – and Covid has really brought that to the fore.”

A lot has happened in the two years since November 2019 – Covid being the most disruptive, but it was a chance for community pharmacy across Northern Ireland to step up to the mark and demonstrate its worth as a community based health resource. Although Bannside Pharmacy isn’t yet providing the vaccine (it does provide the flu vaccine), it has helped customers think about how to support their immune system. And Bannside Pharmacy was pleased to have a visit from the Health Minister Robin Swann in May, who came to say a simple ‘thank you’. That meant a lot to Eoghan and his team.

Challenging time

“Covid was a really challenging time – but I think community pharmacy stood up really well to it. We showed what we’re capable of doing, and took some of the pressure off GPs” said Eoghan.

“Portglenone is a small rural town with a population of a few thousand – community pharmacy has a role in helping people connect. We have a treatment room in the pharmacy which provides a range of complementary therapies – which can be the first step in helping people cope with stress.”

Customers can access the treatment room for reflexology, kinesiology, acupuncture and other therapies proven to help combat the physical and mental impact of stress.

Healthy interest

Eoghan also takes a healthy interest in new developments – and keeps up to date with what’s happening in the health and wellbeing market

Earlier this year Bannside Pharmacy introduced a new Microsuction Ear Wax Removal service – which has been highly successful, and also taking that pressure off GPs.

Last year saw the sixtieth anniversary for Bannside Pharmacy – established in 1960 by Eoghan’s late father Colm.

“He started the business in 1960 – and we moved in upstairs. We were literally brought up above the shop.”

Eoghan qualified as a pharmacist in 1989 and took over the business in 1993 – he still finds it hard to believe that’s almost thirty years ago! He’s seen some changes since then.

Technology

“In 1998 we doubled the size of the shop when we took over the premises next door. That allowed us to create the treatment room” said Eoghan.

“There’s also been huge steps forward with technology. We recently installed new tills which will allow us to take the next steps into e-commerce.

“We also now have the 24-hour Pick-Up Point for prescriptions. It’s a type of robot in the front window – a bit like an ATM for prescriptions – which means we can scan the prescription and send the person a six-digit pin number. It gives customers a lot more flexibility – they can literally collect their prescription at six in the morning, or eight in the evening or even 2am if needs be. It’s been very popular – especially for people who needed to socially distance, and parking can be difficult outside during the day.

Rapidly changing environment

“Community pharmacy is a rapidly changing environment – but our core ethos of serving the local community is still the same. We’ve had staff here for forty years (Bernie has been here over forty years) and we’re very fortunate to have great team.

“Portglenone is a small but vibrant community – we don’t have any of the supermarket multiples – the nearest would be in Ballymena or Magherafelt, but we have a great EUROSPAR, Nisa Extra and lots of small independents that are also at the heart of the community.”

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Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed an expansion of the community pharmacy COVID-19 vaccination service with the phased deployment of the Moderna vaccine.

The vaccine will be available to eligible individuals aged 18 years and over.

The roll out builds on the success of the existing COVID-19 vaccination service, which has now delivered over 115,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from almost 350 community pharmacies across Northern Ireland.

The new service will initially offer the Moderna vaccine from 16 pharmacies with more pharmacies being added to the service on a rolling basis over the coming weeks.

Locations have been identified and selected on the basis of vaccine uptake data in order to help reach as many people as possible in areas of lower uptake and to make it easier than ever for people to get their vaccine and protect themselves and their loved ones.

Minister Swann said: “Community pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland have already risen to the challenge by delivering over 115,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, while continuing to provide their vital services to people in their communities at a time of immense pressure across the health and social care system.

“As well as the continued availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine to individuals over 40, the additional availability of the Moderna vaccine to eligible individuals aged 18 years and over will also provide more locations where those people who haven’t yet come forward to receive their vaccine to do so now.

“While the logistical challenges with deployment of the Moderna vaccine are considerable, the number of participating pharmacies offering Moderna will continue to increase over the coming weeks and this will help many more people to come forward to access their vaccine in an easy and convenient location for them.”

Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer said: “Pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland should be very proud of the contribution they have made to the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Their actions have undoubtedly saved lives.

“The deployment of the Moderna vaccine from an increasing number of community pharmacies over the coming weeks will play a vital part in our continued fight back against the virus.”

Joe Brogan, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Health and Social Care Board said: “Community pharmacies are extremely accessible healthcare venues which have successfully demonstrated the delivery of flu vaccines and more recently COVID-19 vaccination.

“Rolling the Moderna vaccine out through selected pharmacies will, I hope, provide the opportunity for even greater uptake of these lifesaving vaccines.”

Gerard Green, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland said: “We welcome the inclusion of Moderna to the COVID-19 vaccination programme, particularly for those in the under 40s age group. Community pharmacy is embedded in the heart of local communities, and this has been important in the vaccine roll out to date, providing patients with the option to receive their vaccine from a convenient and familiar health care professional, that they know and trust.

“As the Moderna vaccine is initially being rolled out to a limited number of pharmacies, I would ask the public to please be patient with community pharmacy teams as we continue to deliver pharmacy services and play our part in helping to protect the local population through the COVID-19 vaccination programme.”

The Minister added: “Cases have continued to rise over recent weeks and we are now also beginning to see the pressures mounting on our hospitals, with increasing demand for intensive care beds – albeit at a lower rate, thanks to the effectiveness of our vaccination programme. If we can make a concerted effort to increase vaccine uptake in the next week or so, this can help make a decisive difference, in terms of preventing serious illness and hospitalisations.

“If you haven’t yet received your first dose of the vaccine – don’t delay, act today.”

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