Hi everyone!
Despite lurking on here for a while, and making the occasional post, I have only just realised that I have not introduced myself.
My name is Ian, I graduated from University of Bath in 2002 and worked as a pre-reg for Howard and Palmer (a local multiple) in my home town of Neath. After qualifying I stayed with H+P, initially as a relief Pharmacist and then as a manager of a busy health centre Pharmacy (18 GP's no less
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At the end of 2004 H+P were bought out by NCC (now Co-operative Group) and I was made "Cluster Leader" (sounds like I should have been in charge of a group of Spitfires, or maybe a few people with piles, who knows!?), acting as adviser to 9 branches. To adapt to the increased workload I moved to (what was initially) a quieter branch in Porthcawl.
After a period of relative success I was made Regional Sector Manager and moved out of day-to-day community pharmacy, covering 30 branches in the South Wales area. This lasted only a year as I missed the "cut and thrust" of being in-branch (and speaking to patients, it is amazing how much you miss it) and I returned to my home branch of Neath - where I have stayed for over a year. I enjoy performing MUR and all other services (soon to start INR testing), but have got myself into hot water in the past for speaking out over MUR targets - won't be doing that again!
I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I may not be the greatest clinical Pharmacist in the world but I always have patient interest at heart, and will always do everything to ensure that they are treated with 100% respect and decency.
In my spare time I am a bit of a Gym Rat, and am rugby mad (OSPREYS!!), as well as a motor-sport geek.
Ian