Medicines Management
Issue no 6, p3
November/December 2002

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NI pharmacists to be mentored

Community pharmacists in Northern Ireland are to benefit from a mentoring scheme as one of several measures designed to increase participation in its medication review service.

Each board will begin recruiting mentor pharmacists in a bid to overcome some of the professional isolation that community pharmacists face. Dr Martin Kerr, community pharmacy development pharmacist, Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB), said: "To encourage greater pharmacist participation, a scheme involving study groups and mentor pharmacists has been set up in conjunction with the six pharmacy locality groups in the board area. In each locality we hope to appoint a community pharmacist, experienced in medicines management, to act as a mentor."

Dr Kerr explained that the mentor pharmacist would have three main responsibilities, one of which is to organise study group meetings designed to generate interest in medicines management. "The meetings will involve presentations on therapeutic areas, case studies and an open group discussion, where pharmacists could raise issues or problems they had come across in practice," he said.

Mentors will also act as the first point of contact for any community pharmacist in the locality who requires help with their medication reviews and will help them carry out their first medication reviews. Dr Kerr added: "If necessary, pharmacists employed as prescribing advisors at the EHSSB or myself would be available to help or provide information to the mentor."

The idea is to develop a local network to support community pharmacists involved in medicines management and to encourage other pharmacists to provide this valuable service to the public, Dr Kerr said.

Although the medicines management initiative introduced two years ago has met its target of 20 per cent of pharmacies providing medication reviews, the pharmacy service wants to expand the numbers taking part, which is why it is introducing the mentoring scheme. Dr Denis Morrison, director of pharmaceutical services, Northern Health and Social Services Board, said: "We're taking a number of measures designed to increase participation in the scheme, including the possibility of holding meetings with local GPs to help raise awareness."

Other plans may result in employee pharmacists being paid for their work providing the service. Dr Morrison said: "We're looking at the possibility of paying an honorarium, tied to continuing professional development, for carrying out a certain number of medication reviews." Payment would depend on the number of successful reviews completed as well as a record of results in CPD portfolios.

The pharmacy service is also planning to advertise the service direct to patients through posters in dispensary areas, and developing certification for pharmacists qualified to provide the service.