Masters student crowned Community Pharmacist of the Year

18 Jul 2014

Roisin credits University course for helping her “make an impact”

A pharmacy student has credited her University masters course with helping her net the prestigious Community Pharmacist of the Year award.

Roisin Breen, a pharmacist at Bradleys Pharmacy in Omagh, Northern Ireland, is in the final year of her Masters Degree in Pharmacy Public Health Services, which she is completing part-time by distance learning.

As part of her course, students are encouraged to think about promoting public health more widely in their local community based on the specific health needs.

Roisin came up with a number of new initiatives which caught the attention of competition organisers the Chemist and Druggist. Her one-to-one health sessions in a women's refuge, raising money for lung cancer research and organising a weight loss programme were all singled out by judges.

The 44-year-old, who has two children, said: “I qualified as a pharmacist back in 1991 and saw this masters course when flicking through a pharmacy magazine and decided to apply.

“It was a bit of a shock to the system going back to studying after all this time and fitting in a full-time job but it has been one of the best decisions I ever made. The enjoyment I get from my day-to-day work has just gone off the scale. I’m much happier with my role now and I really feel like I’m making an impact which I’ve definitely picked up from the course. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone but I’d really recommend it.

“I’ve made a lot of community links through the course and the initiatives I’ve set up for my local community have been backed up by need and really target local needs.”

One initiative was a lung cancer awareness campaign, prompted by the death of a customer with the disease and in response to high rates locally. Roisin’s pharmacy handed out 300 leaflets, referred three patients for investigation and raised £400 for charity. Staff were trained to pick up potential symptoms like customers coming in for cough medicine with persistent coughs.

A men's health week saw 10 customers referred for further assessment and through her Pound Drop programme she helped all 16 members lose weight within 12 weeks.

As a result of Roisin’s work, her pharmacy is now well recognised among patients, healthcare professionals and commissioners in the area. Prescription volumes have increased by 7 per cent in one year and her renowned success means her pharmacy is now being paid to provide events within her community.