This year’s Pharmacy Show has been remodelled around the changing needs of pharmacy support staff. Mihir Patel, Pharmacy Show’s marketing manager, explains more

Promoting wellness through self-care has never been a higher priority for the UK’s health departments, as they grapple with an ageing population and an explosion in the healthcare costs associated with chronic conditions. As pharmacy presses forward with the development of new roles designed to create capacity in primary care, the role of the pharmacy support team has never been more important.

Recognising these advances in pharmacy practice, this year’s Pharmacy Show has been remodelled around the changing needs of the pharmacy technician, dispensing assistant and medicines counter assistant workforces. Taking place on 18-19 October at the NEC in Birmingham, and now in its ninth year, the 2015 Pharmacy Show offers pharmacy support staff a two-day programme of expert educational content. This has been specifically crafted to give teams the necessary skills to care for patients with confidence.

The education programme for pharmacy support staff kicks off right from the very start. Training Matters is delighted to be the editorial partner of the show’s newly expanded Public Health and Wellbeing Forum, which this year has a renewed focus on clinical services such as running a stop smoking service, weight loss, emergency contraception and diabetes prevention. For those wanting a bit more in the way of ideas for developing their pharmacy, there is also the expanded Local Pharmacy Innovation Theatre. For staff members with a specific interest in the pharmacy’s OTC sales business, a new, two-day programme of presentations from leading OTC supplier RB is on offer.

Presentations cover pertinent and topical issues such as antibiotic stewardship, and as the rush starts for the new NHS flu vaccination advanced service, there will be an all-important session on marketing your pharmacy. At other times during the two days, pharmacy support staff can take advantage of leading expert presentations on clinical OTC areas such as dry eye, childhood fever, dry skin conditions, treating upper GI conditions and headache.

To get maximum benefit from the Show’s education programmes, pharmacy staff are advised to take the time to visit the exhibition floor, where more than 400 exhibitors will come together, all under one roof, to showcase the latest products and services to boost your business, and offer you on-stand education. Registration for the Pharmacy Show is now open, for more information click here.