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
 
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Pharmacy Upfront PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 02 July 2008 07:06

Our resident pharmacist considers a life of “selective filtering” but concludes that pharmacy’s added value is here to stay.

How many businesses, or professionals, can you phone directly for advice, without becoming the recipient of a hard sell, or incurring some sort of fee?

One key to the success of any business, and the public’s perception of it, is accessibility. It’s partly why pharmacy is held in high regard and why I spend a lot of the day on the phone. It’s why my coffee is perpetually cold. But, and the important thing is this, a pharmacy can really engage with its clients, understand their needs and build deep and trusting relationships with those they serve.

Consider these parallels with other professions. Recently I had a little trouble with a well-known low cost airline. I’ll not bore you, but suffice to say the company coffers are generously replenished while you sit on hold, choosing option after option, only to be cut off. I tried every option, even the one to book special wheelchair access, to see if anyone would speak to me. Nope. I did get sorted at the end, by going to the airport and speaking to someone behind a desk; human interaction is a wonderful thing! But despite being able to fly halfway across Europe for the price of a meal out, one was left with a bitter taste in one’s mouth. Did I feel they cared that I was frustrated, and annoyed? Not at all.

Likewise, broadband providers. I quickly discovered my provider operates a dual-level of service; the standard level is a waste of time, and to get someone who knows what they are doing commands a hefty fee per minute. Suddenly that cheap deal isn’t so cheap anymore, and you’re tied in for thirty years, so you can’t do anything. I found emotional blackmail was lost on them.

But, customers can switch their pharmacy far easier than their broadband. And, if you really want to fly to Ukraine, you fly with whoever flies that route. Ease of access without appointment is one of the cornerstones of our profession; how many health professionals can offer that? I’m not suggesting we do this for a second, but charging £1 a minute to phone us would be a nice wee money spinner. And a little selective ‘filtering’ would free up a lot of time. But it would not be worth the resentment it would cause. If only all businesses, as a necessity for their survival, had to be as client-focused as us.