CPD activity

Before you start reading this article, think about:

• What do I want to learn?
• What will I gain from this learning?
• What will my employer gain?
• What difference will it make to people who use my services?

A recent discussion group of adults with Down’s syndrome, identified that their pharmacist “gives tablets” and that “you go to the pharmacy to get medicine”. The group identified medicines as “really important” and “good for recovery”.

However, despite regularly taking medicines, most focus group members were unclear about why they needed them and how they helped. They explained that pharmacists often spoke to their parents or carers during consultations instead of them. All were unaware that they could ask the pharmacist themselves for information about their medicines. Group members agreed that they would like the pharmacist to talk to them directly and give them more accessible information about their medicines.

This illustrates the importance that people who have a learning disability place on engagement with pharmacy professionals and the potential difference that positive engagement can make to them.