On Monday 9 December 2024 the Pharmaceutical Society NI announced the start of a year-long celebration of the pharmacy profession.
Our organisation was founded in 1925, and we have decided to mark our 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.
The launch took place across the city of Derry/Londonderry and included:
- A meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society’s Council at Altnagelvin Hospital’s main lecture theatre, opened by keynote addresses from Western Trust Chair, Dr Tom Frawley CBE, and Chief Executive, Mr Neil Guckian OBE
- A tour of the hospital’s pharmacy department, including their aseptics unit, and their state-of-the-art dispensing robot
- A visit to Murphy’s Chemists in the Waterside area of the city, which has been serving the community since 1951
- A visit to Aberfoyle Medical Practice to hear from GP pharmacists about the vital role they place in integrated healthcare provision
Throughout the day, Society representatives and their guests 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.
Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Western Trust, Dr Anne Friel played host at Altnagelvin, and was joined by Pharmaceutical Society President, Dr Geraldine O’Hare, and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Northern Ireland, Professor Cathy Harrison for the tour of the hospital, and the subsequent visits around the city.
Derry and Strabane Deputy Mayor, Alderman Darren Guy, also joined the others on the tour of Altnagelvin, and the visit to Murphy’s Chemists.
Dr Friel, who is also a Fellow of the Society, is retiring from her role at the Trust at the end of December 2024, and time was found to congratulate her, and offer a small token of appreciation for a career of exceptional achievements and dedication to the pharmacy profession.
While visiting Murphy’s Chemist Dr Friel, Professor Harrison, Alderman Guy and Dr O’Hare met proprietor and pharmacist, Helen Murphy, who has been a practising pharmacist since the mid-70s.
Ms Murphy, showed the guests around her modern premises, explaining how she had embedded her interest in innovation into the business including their dispensing robot. She then discussed the variety of services she and her team offer, including the new sore throat Pharmacy First scheme, and how they are proud to work at the heart of the community, serving the people in the Waterside.
BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson dropped in to record an interview with Helen and the visitors, which will be available on their website until 8 January 2025.
During the final visit of the day, to Aberfoyle Medical Practice, Dr Friel, Professor Harrison and Dr O’Hare met with Dior McWilliams, the practice’s pharmacist, and David Lenagh, Lead Pharmacist for the Derry GP Federation.
General Practice Pharmacists (GPPs) have been in practice in the Derry Federation since 2016, and employ 33 pharmacists who cover 27 member practices from Limavady to Ederney and a patient population of around 210,000.
They promote the management of chronic health conditions and embed the Medicines Optimisation Quality Framework within primary care. This includes the management of the repeat prescribing system within GP Practices, alongside ongoing medication reviews, medication reconciliations and dealing with medication queries and shortages.
Reflecting on the day, Dr O’Hare concluded:
“Throughout 2025, as we look back on 100 years as an organisation, we want to bring public attention to just how vital these professionals are in supporting the entire healthcare sector in Northern Ireland.
“We are also excited to be working on the inclusion of pharmacy technicians to our register, the first time in our history that we have extended registration to professionals other than pharmacists.
“To every pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and all other members of their teams, I would like to say, thank you for your skills, expertise and dedication to our healthcare.”
Please keep an eye on the History section of our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to find out all the latest updates on our Centenary celebrations.