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But what
will they do?
How and where will they success stemmed from a decade of refinement and
plug into the system? integration within the wider healthcare system.
“So it becomes much more complex. He believed prescribing could be transformative for
My concern with the pathfinders is pharmacy, especially in the areas of long-term condition
that they only really got going in the management, minor ailments, and other specialized fields.
last couple of months and will run until However, he emphasised that England’s commissioning
March 2025, I think. It’s not much time to structure would need to prevent demand simply shifting
work out workable prescribing models elsewhere in primary care. Empowering pharmacists in
with such a complicated agenda, even these areas, he felt, would improve system efficiency,
though the pathfinders are looking at clinical care and be pivotal for the profession. However,
some very interesting areas.” several barriers in England would need addressing
Richard went on to say that he viewed before reaching this stage including funding, in-
Scotland’s prescribing model as a practice supervision and whether existing registrants
promising template, noting that its would even want to become prescribers.
Transformative change
Richard reflected on the He observed that Numark had stepped up its
transformative changes he had seen leadership role in recent times, particularly in clinical
in journalism over the past 30 years, leadership, which had not always been aligned with
particularly in how engagement the entrepreneurial spirit of independent pharmacy.
with readers has evolved. Early in his He was particularly struck by Numark’s “Pillars
career, the publications he worked on of future pharmacy practice”, which he believed
were print based, with limited reader provided a clear roadmap for both the company
interaction, mostly through letters. and the wider sector. He acknowledged Numark’s
However, the rise of the internet and leadership in professional development, noting its
social media shifted this dynamic, focus on technology, capacity building and data
allowing for much more direct utilization. He praised the organization for moving not
engagement. While social media could only itself but independent pharmacy forward.
sometimes be a toxic and unpleasant
place, he saw it as a valuable tool for To finish off, Richard was asked
connecting with readers and making how he would like to work with
content more relevant and engaging. Numark going forward.
The advent of podcasts an webcasts “When I think of that question, I think of all the
during the COVID-19 pandemic pharmacists and pharmacy teams at Numark who
further changed the landscape. do amazing things; innovative, advanced things.
With an overwhelming amount of And we, as a print and online title, need to be talking
information to process, Richard’s team to your members all the time, telling their stories,
introduced podcasts to make content because disseminating good practice is an incredibly
more accessible, a format that quickly important part of what the pharmacy press does. We
gained popularity. He noted that over always need to be getting closer to you, finding out
the years, his editorial teams produced exactly what your members are up to. Then Pharmacy
more content — maybe about three Magazine can help spread the word because that’s
times as much as before — despite how the sector grows – highlighting good practice,
having smaller teams, which was a drawing attention to it.
testament to the shift in demand for
content on the part of readers. “Pharmacists love reading
Richard also noted a significant shift about other pharmacists
and finding out what their
in Numark’s approach, particularly over peers are up to. I know
the past year or so. Reflecting on a we have our “Northern
conversation many years ago with a Pharmacy Tour” coming
former Numark CEO, Terry Norris, he up in early 2025, Harry. I’m
emphasised that Numark had always really looking forward to
been an integral part of the independent seeing in person all the
sector and thus had a responsibility to innovative things your
provide professional leadership, not just members are doing.”
support for members.
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