Isabel, originally from Belfast, is a Community Pharmacist Manager now living in Cardiff. Isabel followed in her father’s footsteps with a career in community pharmacy. After training in Cardiff, Isabel was given exciting opportunities to kickstart her career in Wales. She now calls Wales her home and is continuing to develop in her field with the support of Welsh funding.
Isabel says:
“My dad was a community pharmacist and a leading academic too, so I was surrounded by the industry from a young age - I was really inspired by the passion he had for his job. I also have several family members working in various other healthcare professions, so I guess you could say it’s in our blood.
“I started my degree at Cardiff University in 1995 and I’ve been based here ever since. I initially chose Wales as a place to study because it felt familiar to me. We spent a lot of time holidaying in North Wales when I was a toddler, and my parents would often remind me of the friendly people and the beautiful scenery. It was a bonus that Cardiff University offered one of the best pharmacy schools in the country too. I enjoyed my time and experience in Wales so much that I decided this was where I wanted to continue training and working, especially given all the opportunities I’ve had.
“Since qualifying, I’ve focused on community pharmacy, but during that time I’ve also held other roles. I was a Designated Supervisor, helping to train the next generation of future pharmacists, and had the opportunity to sit on an advisory committee to the Welsh Government for the professional development of pharmacists. These roles were incredibly rewarding as in Wales, pharmacy and government are very close, and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to get involved in these. I’m currently the Primary Care Community Pharmacist Lead for my area and I am also completing an independent prescribing course at Cardiff University.
“The community pharmacy role in Wales is so good because we offer a lot of new clinical services which has expanded since the new contract. The new contract focuses on services for patients in making healthcare more accessible to them, thus improving patient outcomes as well as allowing more patients to see their doctor, for ailments that require a GP. I can now also offer clinical services including flu vaccination, emergency supply of medication, emergency contraception, common ailment service, discharge medication review, various vaccination services, travel health services and the independent prescribing service. Becoming an independent prescriber was important for me, as it means I can learn about conditions in depth and can confidently prescribe for them. Learning new information also keeps me stimulated, so that I can better help my patients.
“The support and training I’ve received since qualifying has been second to none. Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) provided the highest quality training and were always on hand to offer support if required. From day one, I’ve felt supported by the various training centres I’ve been involved with. It’s great to also be able to help empower others with the knowledge and skills I have gained and to help them feel confident in their role. I also have a trainee pharmacy technician who has now completed their course.
“In terms of further study, I’ve been able to gain protected study time for a leadership course made available through my Primary Care cluster role and received funding support to undertake my independent prescribing course, which I am in the middle of completing. This support has been invaluable. I work closely with my cluster as we all look to help one another in the interests of our patients. For example, if we are trying to get hold of a certain medication. We are also there for each other as a means of support as everyone has different experiences, so having a close cluster network means we can reach out and ask for support if we’re not sure about something. As the cluster lead for my area, I am the first point of call between the pharmacy cluster and primary cluster, which enables us all to work more closely with each other.
“I’d originally expected to move closer to my family in Belfast after graduating in Wales, but I met my husband here and just absolutely fell in love with the country. I’ve made life-long friends throughout my time training and working in Wales and plan to stay long-term. It’s a wonderful place to bring up a family with its rich countryside and picturesque scenery on the doorstep - but would suit all types of people at different stages in their life and career. There are also so many opportunities to progress, and educational support available to help with that progression, as well as mentoring and internships. I’m so glad Wales became my home; I couldn’t recommend it enough.”