One Size FIts All

Among baggage reclaim carousels across the globe, passengers are reuniting themselves with exactly the same luggage in one country as they so trustingly parted from in another.

The Direct Approach

In a bid to raise awareness about the breadth, variety and indeed complexity of services offered throughout community pharmacies in Northern Ireland, pharmacy contractors Lee Dearn and James McKay joined David McCrea in Dundela Pharmacy to welcome the Health Minister.

The Right Formula

First the Albert Clock was treated to a reinvigorating cleanse, then the Merchant Hotel opened one of Belfast's premier jazz bars but the redevelopment of High Street doesnít stop there. Formula Healthís face-lift has turned heads of customers, commercial businesses and the Lord Mayor alike.

News in Brief

Cost Of A Pint

The 'shocking' cost of alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland was highlighted by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey in June after estimates that its cost to society equates to £679.8million with a range of £500million to £884million. "This research shows that the cost to the Health Service alone may be as high as around £160million each year with a further cost of £82million to Social Services,î the Minister said. ìThese figures are particularly pertinent in the context of my Departmentís very challenging financial situation because this is money that could be spent providing key frontline services."

Heart In Hands

The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland is appealing to fundraisers to help it reach its target of £80,000 by August. The campaign is to recruit more heart nurses to support patients throughout the province and to reduce secondary care admissions.

Haiti Fundraising

Staff at Holly Villa in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital have raised over £320 for a group who are travelling to Haiti in October to build houses following the earthquake. The Tyrone Haiti Build is a project in conjunction with the Haven Partnership to support those affected by the disaster.

Secondary Care Supported

A new hospital in Omaghs fight for funding has been supported by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. Speaking at a meeting with the Omagh joint liaison group, the Minister said: "I am fully committed to the development of the new Omagh hospital and will continue to press for the essential funding needed to make this a reality."

Commissioning Together

Pharmacists and GPs must work together to define the gaps in commissioning data, review how they can be filled and to determine the correct level of care provision for a particular area, according to Stephen Foster, the head of the new Healthcare Professionals Commissioning Network. The network is open to any health or social care professional who would like to engage in commissioning. tinyurl.com/HCPnetwork

UCA Charity Challenge

Written by Laure James - Editor Pharmacy in Focus

Friday, 01 May 2009 13:27

Hilton Templepatrick, 16 September 2009 - Thank You!

Pharmacy has always been a competitive industry, with pharmacists playing the healthcare business game, while ensuring very

high levels of care provision, better than most. Now it's time to pit your sporting and general knowledge prowess against colleagues in Northern Ireland pharmacy at the Ulster Chemists' Association Charity Challenge!

This brand new event is designed to raise money for charity and to give all those working within or supplying to Northern Ireland pharmacy an unmissable occasion. Featuring a golf tournament, barbeque and a quiz night, the event will be held to benefit the Ulster Cancer Foundation, Northern Ireland Hospice and Africare charities.

Whatever your interests, there will be something for everyone and their guests to get involved with on the day. Tickets for the barbeque and quiz are just £15 per person, with a minimum quiz team of six and a maximum of eight.

Now is the time to recruit your team members, register with the UCA and take the first step to becoming quiz champions! As soon as your registration has been processed, you will receive a sponsorship pack including forms to use for fundraising. Each team will be asked to raise some money prior to the event, in aid of the benefiting charities and the more ingenious and imaginative your fundraising ideas are, the better! For the more adventurous among you, why not take some inspiration from our fearless abseiling team?

Don't Look Down!

A team of fourteen pharmacists, pharmacy staff, industry colleagues and friends took to the ropes in the Odyssey Arena, to take on an abseiling challenging involving a heart-stopping 140ft drop. The freefall abseil, which was suspended from the top of one of Belfast's premier indoor venues, was first tackled by the Ulster Chemists' Association's enthusiastic president, James McKay.

I am really glad to see such a great turnout and am very grateful to all those who have participated and helped us to raise around £3000 for charity within just a fortnight, James said. As for my abseil, apart from losing a little momentum on the way down to pose for some photos, it was a really great experience and a fantastic and fun way to raise money for charity. With the great programme we have lined up for 16 September, we're certainly looking forward to hosting an even more memorable event.

Download our information guide here