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

Family Affairs

Written by Laure James - Editor Pharmacy in Focus
Monday, 04 August 2008 11:21
The similarities between siblings can sometimes be startling but one family’s passion for academia at Queen’s University was recognised as their fourth daughter graduated from the School of Pharmacy. Deirdre Galway followed in her sisters’ footsteps at the end of June as she celebrated securing her 2:1 MPharm in Pharmacy, while proud parents John and Ann, who also studied at Queen’s University, congratulated their youngest daughter. Eldest daughter Louise passed through the doors of Whitla Hall in 1993 when she graduated from the School of Medicine, while Christine gained a degree in Music in 1995 and more recently Joanne, who graduated in France in 1999. Their father John, a retired general practitioner, graduated in Medicine in 1975 while his wife Ann’s first degree in Social Anthropology was completed in 2000. She is now studying for a Masters in Nursing, which will bring the number of top qualifications under the Galway household to a staggering eight. Deirdre, an accomplished musician, will be spending her relaxing summer touring Holland and Norway with other members of the traditional Irish music group, Cuan. “I am very pleased to have achieved a 2:1 in my degree and cannot wait to be added to our family’s Queen’s graduation gallery,” Deirdre enthused. “My partner Conor Lamb also completed his Computer Science degree, so graduation day was a very special occasion for us all.”