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Pharmacy organisations gear up for campaigning day
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UK pharmacy organisations are planning a political campaigning day on Tuesday 21 November to showcase the vital work community pharmacies do, with activities set to include a parliamentary reception and social media engagement.
The campaign aims to generate media and political interest in pharmacy by highlighting what community
pharmacies do to help patients and the NHS during the winter months. The campaign will warn of the risks if this is lost, and argue for the further development of services, says the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
The PSNC says it hopes the campaigning day
“will offer a chance to renew media and political interest in community pharmacy,” and that everyone working in the sector will “take part and help by showcasing the vital work they are doing”.
Campaigning activities will include:
- Social media: The organisations aim to get people talking about community pharmacy via the #pharmacywinter hashtag. Pharmacy teams are encouraged to use their social media accounts to demonstrate their efforts over the course of a single day. PSNC has developed resources including template tweets and a ‘Twibbon’ that can be added to social media profiles
- Engaging with local councillors: PSNC says that the current emphasis on local commissioning “means it is more important than ever to engage with local councillors, and the action day should provide a useful opportunity to do this”. PSNC says it aims to “offer briefings to as many councillors as possible, particularly those with an interest in health, inviting them to visit a community pharmacy to find out more about the services they are offering and their role throughout the winter months.” Pharmacies interested in hosting a councillor visit should let their LPC know
- Parliamentary reception: This will offer a chance for MPs to come and receive a medicines check as we move into winter, along with a short briefing on community pharmacy, says PSNC. LPCs are supporting this by inviting local MPs and, in some cases, sending representatives to the event. Those who wish to invite their MP to the reception should coordinate with their LPC.