COVID CHAMPIONS
CLOUGHMILLS PHARMACY
Cloughmills
During the entire challenging period created by COVID-19 – and particularly during the first lockdown when everything was ‘unknown’ – the pharmacy staff worked all hours of the night – often with the shutters down. What delighted owner, Gillian McKee, in particular, was the fact that not one member of staff had to be asked to stay. Everyone worked as and when necessary to ensure continuity of service.
MCKEEVERS CHEMISTS
At the start of the pandemic, there was a sense of urgency and panic among local communities. With 20 branches across Northern Ireland, McKeevers Chemists’ pharmacists were actively involved in the communities they serve from the outset. In addition to care pharmacy, the pharmacies also provide extended community pharmacy services to a large number of nursing homes, residential homes and supported living facilities.
BOOTS
Ballyholme
When lockdown first occurred in March of 2020, the Boots Ballyholme branch was overwhelmed by the hundreds of prescriptions that came in from panicking patients. Pharmacist, Laura Boyd, worked in conjunction with the local GP surgery and the practice-based pharmacists to resolve the challenges that the situation had created.
HARKIN’S AND GLASS PHARMACIES
Maghera
At the beginning of the COVID-19 rollercoaster, Vincent Harkin immediately made the pharmacy premises as safe as he could, installing counter partitions and issuing everyone with full PPE. This was a scary time for patients, and one that was new for pharmacy. Vincent knew that he had to lead his pharmacy – and his team – into this new, challenging time.
