‘It’s been a definitive year for pharmacy. But where do we go from here?’ Says Phil Galt ahead of his first talk at The Pharmacy Show

‘It’s been a definitive year for pharmacy. But where do we go from here?’ Says Phil Galt ahead of his first talk at The Pharmacy Show

Due to talk at The Pharmacy Show for the first time on Sunday 13th October, Phil Galt – pharmacist and newly appointed managing director for Cegedim Rx - gives us a taster of what’s to come…

It’s been a definitive year for pharmacy.

Over the last year, we’ve seen the good and the bad aspects of pharmacy’s evolution.

The launch of Pharmacy First in England was a welcome investment in the sector.

However, we continue to see rising levels of pharmacist burnout and skyrocketing NHS dispensing volumes as an ever-greater number of pharmacies disappear from our communities.

We have also been given a glimpse of what’s to come, such as plans to expand Pharmacy First, and the chance for pharmacies to take a greater role in clinical trials.

But these are only a few of the opportunities and challenges over the horizon.

Sadly, we’ve also witnessed pharmacies up and down the country switching their lights off, raising awareness of pharmacists' daily battle to stay in business and care for their patients.

We have a new Government with the ambition to make healthcare an ‘engine of economic growth’ and to remove the ‘begging bowl culture’ when it comes to funding.

Calling out the need for greater interoperability to support patients and to connect the dots between local services so the frontline can work more collaboratively.

And while only time will tell if that political rhetoric becomes reality, one common thread throughout this year’s milestones is a desire for change.

Change is coming at pace not only in pharmacy, but across all healthcare and the decisions we all make today count.

The biggest threat to pharmacists is to do nothing. To stand still. We must move forward.

This year has also been a time of change for me personally. In April, after more than two decades of working in community pharmacy, I became the managing director of Cegedim Rx.

I made the move because I passionately believe that technology is the key to helping pharmacy unlock more of its potential.

Pharmacists are being asked to do much, much more, but with much, much less, and that almost certainly needs to change.

 

Evolution is essential to keeping pace in a dynamic and competitive space. But knowing which direction to take can be incredibly tough when you’re overwhelmed, underfunded, and running at full pelt just to keep the lights on.

My talk at The Pharmacy Show will focus on where we go from here and how, together, we can make community pharmacy thrive.

Phil Galt will explore how pharmacists can future-proof their businesses and unlock more opportunities for growth at The Pharmacy Show on Sunday 13th October at 1.55pm in the Technology Theatre.

Visitors can also meet the Cegedim Rx team at stand D30 to find out more about how it’s fully integrated, intelligent pharmacy software solution can streamline real-time operations, optimise performance, increase revenue opportunity, and transform the pharmacy experience for both staff and patients.