Inspired by this Twitter thread...here's your chance to pay tribute to community pharmacy and thanks those individuals who have inspired you along the way. (Add yours by commenting below) Clare Howard, clinical lead for medicines optimisation at Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) “I would like to thank England Pharmacy in Wigan for opening the door to the world of pharmacy to me. I started there in 1988 as a Saturday girl. I had been a waitress (a job I hated) and so it was lovely to start work in a family-run, busy, friendly community pharmacy in Gidlow, Wigan. I am so grateful to Mr England for letting the clumsy, clueless girl that I was, loose on the customers and patients of Gidlow.  “All human life was there. I learned so much in that job. Firstly, I have never laughed so much. The ‘girls’ who worked in the shop and dispensary were all so good to me and the banter was priceless. But I also saw real hardship too: people with serious addiction problems; older people struggling with their mobility; as well as the usual community pharmacy bread and butter of pregnancy testing, children's illness, long-term conditions and people seeking advice and reassurance from a professional person in their high street.  “These formative years have shaped my career. You cannot work in a pharmacy like England's and not see how important community pharmacy is to the people it serves. I saw the GPs and nurses in the practice across the road as part of the team I was in – we must preserve this model of care close to home.  “I had no idea then that this part-time job would open up to me a career that has given me so much. I have worked in all sorts of pharmacy roles, but I have never forgotten the things I learned at the start. Thank you Mr and Mrs England, I am forever in your debt.”    Neelm Saini, pharmacist manager at Cookham Pharmacy in Berkshire “I began my community pharmacy career at the age of 16, working on ‘cash’n’wrap’ (aka the till) at Boots in Redhill for four hours each Saturday. This continued while I completed my GCSEs, A-Levels and degree, and developed from working on the till to other shop duties, but most importantly for me, I was trained to work behind the chemist counter. “The branch manager at the time was Mr Burridge and he was a fine example of a gentleman and a pharmacist. Nothing phased him and I can only ever remember him smiling, being forever present on the shop floor – the true face of the pharmacy. Margaret and Jenny were two other pharmacists that worked at the branch. Jenny (bless her) had the tough time of introducing me to the dispensary on a day when they were short staffed. “In my early days, I recall placing an order for 100 plastipak syringes – except I didn’t appreciate that they came in outers of 100 and so I was welcomed the next morning by a wall of 100 boxes. Let’s just say I wasn’t popular that day! Pre-regs came and went and I was inspired. Sarah was one that I will always remember. Her last day was a very eventful Saturday…I don’t think what she went through that day is even listed in the official competencies! But she made it. “Denise Ede took me though my pre-reg at Boots in Horley. She was fantastic! I had THE best pre-reg year with a brilliant tutor. Her advice on my first day has always stuck with me: ‘Start the day with a clear and organised bench.’”   Ade Williams, lead prescribing pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy in South Bristol and director and superintendent pharmacist of the M J Williams Pharmacy Group “Traherne Pharmacy in Hove was across the road from us when I arrived to live in Hove with my aunt. I walked past it every day on my way to college and my aunt – a nurse – advised me to chat to the pharmacist about his career. “He completely sold it to me. It was the richness of the humanity and the access I loved. A local NHS bastion, always with a friendly, welcoming ambience.”   Bruce Warner, NHS England’s deputy chief pharmaceutical officer “Once I qualified from Sunderland [university], I followed my heart to the north west where by now wife was also doing her pre-reg year – being brought up in the home counties it was certainly very different. I did my pre-reg in Boots in Wigan (what a great place!) and then went on the obligatory ‘milk round’ with Boots all over Merseyside. “I remember very soon after I had qualified, I was working in the St Helen’s branch when an elderly man came up to the dispensary counter and asked to speak to the pharmacist. The dispenser said ‘certainly’ and came to fetch me. As I walked out, the patient took one look at me and said: ‘He won’t know anything’ and simply walked off. I was crushed, a newly qualified pharmacist low on confidence and trying to establish himself in the workplace and the profession. “I reflected on that for a long time and in hindsight decided the patient was probably right – a few weeks after qualifying I knew nothing. I want to thank that patient for making me realise that there is absolutely no substitute for experience and actually doing the job. That sixth sense that only develops over time that something is not quite right – there are no shortcuts, no matter how well you are trained. “I have never forgotten the look on that patient’s face or how I felt that morning and would like to think I became a much better pharmacist as a result of that experience. I owe that patient a debt of gratitude for setting me off on the right foot and helping me realise that without the confidence of the patient, we as pharmacists are helpless.”    

Despite the five-year funding deal promising to give contractors some stability and the ability to plan for their move to a more service-led business, PSNC's new CEO Janet Morrison admits there are “challenges” with having five years of flat funding. A rethink of the contract’s length might be on the cards, Ms Morrison suggested in an interview with C+D. Is a five-year contract still working for community pharmacy? |Chemist+Druggist :: C+D (chemistanddruggist.co.uk) PSNC chief: Low-scale, low-volume schemes impede pharmacy’s move to service-led model|Chemist+Druggist :: C+D (chemistanddruggist.co.uk) What do you think? Are you in favour of having a multi-year funding contract? How long should that be? Share your thoughts below

The latest revelation from C+D's investigation into crime in pharmacies - #NoExcuseForAbuse - found that police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received at least 1,240 reports of violent crime committed in pharmacies in 2021. https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD135991/Pharmacies-hit-by-violent-crime-as-police-record-over-1k-incidents-in-2021 Are you surprised by these findings? What is your experience of crime and or harassment/violence at work? Share your thoughts and stories below, or email Emily.Stearn@informa.com if you wish to remain anonymous

A reminder of the findings so far: Revealed: The average salaries, work-life balance, and job satisfaction of primary care pharmacistshttps://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD135858/Revealed-The-average-salaries-worklife-balance-and-job-satisfaction-of-primary-care-pharmacists Pharmacy teams flag staffing level concerns amid mounting workloadshttps://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD135857/Pharmacy-teams-flag-staffing-level-concerns-amid-mounting-workloads Revealed: The average pharmacist branch manager salary across the UK in 2021https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD135862/Revealed-The-average-pharmacist-branch-manager-salary-across-the-UK-in-2021 Average salary of non-manager pharmacists decreased by more than £600 in 2021https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD135860/Average-salary-of-non-manager-pharmacists-decreased-by-more-than-600-in-2021 Does the above ring true for you? How has the past year been for you? Share your experiences and thoughts below, and look out for more coverage in the coming weeks. 

There has been a lot of discussion around community pharmacy employers struggling to recruit and retain pharmacists and pharmacy staff, with the prospect of "better working conditions" and career opportunities in primary care prompting many to leave the sector. https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD007051/Recognition-of-pharmacist-shortage-welcome-as-sector-loses-out-to-PCNs Also see C+D's Big Debate on the topic: https://community.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/rooms/the-big-debate/conversations/41408 But Shenu Barclay recently celebrated 45 years in community pharmacy and shows no signs of stopping a career that she loves, but didn't choose. https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD135820/Saving-lives-facing-gunpoint-serving-celebrities-one-pharmacists-45-years-in-community-pharmacy What do you love about working in community pharmacy? Share your favourite experiences and career highlights below

The discussions around introducing a pharmacist apprenticeship resumed this summer after its unintentional sabbatical due to COVID-19. Meanwhile, the proposals for a doctor degree-level apprenticeship have seemingly been welcomed by the majority, says Sean Quay in his latest blog. Have these factors prompted you to reconsider the pharmacist apprenticeship proposals too?  Share your thoughts below

With the news that Boots' parent company is rumoured to be "exploring" the sale of its pharmacies in the UK - according to Sky News - what impact could this have on the UK pharmacy market? Read C+D's story and share your thoughts: https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD135763/Boots-parent-company-rumoured-to-be-exploring-selling-off-UK-pharmacies

Lloydspharmacy’s parent company McKesson has sold off its UK businesses to the private equity firm Aurelius Group for £477 million. Private equity firm Aurelius acquires Lloydspharmacy’s UK parent company in £477m deal | Chemist+Druggist :: C+D (chemistanddruggist.co.uk) What do you make of the announcement? Do you work for Lloydspharmacy? Are you concerned by the move? Share your thoughts below.