Centenary celebrations continue with visit to Craigavon

Representatives from the Pharmaceutical Society NI visited the Craigavon area on Tuesday (23 September 2025) in advance of this year’s World Pharmacists Day (Thursday 25 September 2025), as part of the organisation’s year-long celebration of its centenary.

The Society has been marking its centenary by hosting a series of events aimed at raising public awareness and appreciation of the contribution made by the pharmacy sector to supporting and promoting public health in Northern Ireland over the past 100 years

Visits across the area included:

• A meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society NI’s Council at Craigavon Area Hospital, opened by a keynote address from Southern HSC Trust interim Chief Executive, Steve Spoerry
• A tour of the hospital’s pharmacy department, including the Aseptic unit and state-of-the-art dispensing robot
• A visit to Clear Pharmacy in Lurgan, part of an NI-based pharmacy group that has pharmacies across Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Great Britain.

Chair of the Southern HSC Trust, Eileen Mullan, Mr Spoerry and Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Trust, Ann McCorry welcomed Pharmaceutical Society Council President Dr Geraldine O’Hare, Vice-President Mark McCrudden, and Chief Executive, Mr Canice Ward, as well as Community Pharmacy NI Chief Executive, Mr Gerard Greene. Ms McCorry led the delegation on a tour of the hospital’s Pharmacy department.

Throughout the day, the visitors heard from a broad cross-section of the pharmacy workforce about the increasing contribution that pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other team members are making to all aspects of the health service in Northern Ireland, often acting as the first point of contact for patients seeking advice and treatment, as well as coordinating medicines management across all areas of practice.

Speaking on behalf of the Southern HSCTrust, Ann McCorry said:

“Today on World Pharmacists Day we are proud to shine a light on our incredible pharmacy team in the Southern Trust, who are dedicated to the wellbeing of our patients.

“We have approximately 150 pharmacists working within the Southern Trust across our teams including, patient and dispensary services, clinical services, aseptic services and procurement. The pharmacists are supported by a fabulous team of pharmacy technicians, pharmacy support workers and administration staff who all work together to deliver a safe effective pharmacy service within the Trust.

“This year’s theme of World Pharmacists Day is ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’. Pharmacists are the most accessible members of our healthcare systems and work to ensure safe and effective use of medicines and manage medication-related problems. 

“Pharmacists are also involved in the delivery of vaccinations and preventive care across NI, and work to promote appropriate medication use to deliver safe, cost-effective care.

“The role of the pharmacist continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of our patients and contribute to strengthening our health care systems and from 2026 pharmacists will qualify as prescribers which will enhance the service that can be provided in both primary and secondary care.”

President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI Dr O’Hare said:

“During our centenary celebrations we have been privileged to witness the work carried out by pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other team members in the treatment of patients across all areas of practice.

“These pharmacy teams deserve huge recognition for the vital role they play in patient journeys.

“World Pharmacists Day is our opportunity to celebrate pharmacists and their teams, and reflect on this year’s theme – ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’.

“Here in Craigavon we have again been greatly impressed by the work of pharmacy in the delivery of vital healthcare and are very grateful to the Southern Trust and Clear Pharmacy for hosting us today.”

At Clear Pharmacy in Lurgan, Dr O’Hare, Mr McCrudden, Mr Ward and Mr Greene met Superintendent Pharmacist, Jayne Laughlin and Pharmacy Manager Steven Smyth.

Speaking on behalf of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

“We are delighted that Jayne and Clear Pharmacy have welcomed the Pharmaceutical Society NI to their community pharmacy in Lurgan during this centenary year for the Society.

“We also welcome the opportunity to collectively celebrate World Pharmacists Day and to recognise the contribution and value of the pharmacy profession across all our health care settings.

“Every day in community pharmacies across Northern Ireland, highly trained and accessible health professionals, just like the team here at Clear Pharmacy in Lurgan, provide a range of clinical services and health interventions which make a lasting and positive impact on the health and well-being of local communities.

“There is a wealth of clinical knowledge and expertise available in our local pharmacies, and we are seeing increasingly expanding community pharmacist roles which could be further tapped into, helping to boost community-based healthcare and reducing pressure on other areas of the Health Service.”

Pharmaceutical Society NI Chief Executive, Canice Ward said:

“World Pharmacists Day is an opportunity to bring public attention to the central role pharmacists play in healthcare.

“We have been honoured to be able to visit pharmacy teams across a range of practice settings.

“Throughout the history of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, and before our foundation, the role of the pharmacist has been so important to the treatment and support of patients in Northern Ireland.

“To everyone working so hard in pharmacy teams here, we would like to offer our appreciation and respect. Thank you for your amazing work.”