1. Role of Pharmacist in Quality and Integrated Care
Daragh Connolly, IPU President

2. The Irish Pharmacy Union
The voice of community pharmacy
Representative body for over 2,200 pharmacists.
The IPU’s primary aim is to lead the community pharmacy agenda in Ireland.

4. Overview of Community Pharmacy Sector
Most liberal pharmacy market in Europe. No restriction on entry to ownership of a pharmacy.
Ireland has a high number of pharmacists per head of population compared to the rest of EU.
Pharmacy Facts:
- Average Outlet Opening Hours
- Daily Footfall at Typical Pharmacy 162
- Annual Visits to Pharmacy mn
- Annual Visits per Person

5. Distance from Nearest Pharmacy
Over 5km 15%
Within 1km
Dublin
70%
Rest Leinster
40%
Munster
60%
Conn/Ulster
35%
Urban
66%
Rural
33%
Always/Mainly loyal
55%
Vary use
48%
Use Chain
49%
Use Independent
56%
Use Symbol
62%
2-5km 10%
1-2km 22%
1km 53%
Much greater proximity in Dublin, Munster and urban areas. Those living closest to a pharmacy are more loyal overall and indeed more likely to use an Independent (or a Symbol group member.) Chain users under-represented in the under 1km group.
Q.2a
How far are you from your nearest pharmacy?

6. What Pharmacists Currently Do Not just dispensers of medicines
Cross-checking prescriptions to minimise the risk of adverse drug reactions;
providing detailed information and support on medicines use and management;
promoting awareness of general health issues, e.g. diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure;
promoting medical compliance, with favourable implications for patient outcomes;
providing advisory services on minor health problems to the general public;
Work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals including GPs and Nurses to ensure quality and delivery of optimum healthcare to patients.
Not just dispensers of medicines

7. Development of our role
Pharmacists would like to provide more services:
Minor Ailments Service
Health Screening
Chronic Disease Management
More Vaccination Services
Switching - POM to P
Medicine Use Reviews
There is huge scope to see the role of the pharmacist expanded in a number of areas, including helping patients get the most from their medicines or screening for cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Pharmacists can play a role in advising people how to have a healthy lifestyle, for example the recent ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign in conjunction with Operation Transformation.

8. Public Opinion Survey
Behaviour & Attitudes carried out a survey on behalf of the IPU in March 2014.

9. Behaviour and Attitudes Survey February 2016
Public Attitudes to Pharmacists
Behaviour and Attitudes Survey February 2016
97% of people rate highly the quality of professional service received from their pharmacist.
“I trust the advice and patient care I receive from the pharmacist” – 95%.
“I am in favour of pharmacists being able to provide services to improve patient adherence to medicines” – 92%.
“I am in favour of pharmacies providing some medicines for minor ailments- 93%
“I would like to see the pharmacy offering services such as blood pressure monitoring and cholesterol testing” – 89%.
“I am more likely to go to talk to the pharmacist first now ahead of visiting the GP” – 60%.

10. Developing Integration
Integrated Discharge Planning
Personalised Medicine
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
ePrescribing

11. International Examples of Integration & the Expansion of the Role of the Pharmacist