Expression of Interest for Service Users and Carers to join the Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group

Overview

The Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG, formerly Health and Social Care Board) are responsible for working with over 500 community pharmacies throughout Northern Ireland.

Pharmacies offer a range of services including dispensing and supply of medicines, vaccinations and offer advice and treatment on everyday health conditions and lifestyle risk factors that contribute to ill health.

The Strategic Planning & Performance Group (SPPG) established a Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group in June 2024 to provide input and advice on the development of safe and efficient pharmacy and medicines services.

The Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group work in partnership with SPPG pharmacy team and other health care professionals and other health care professionals to advise on changes to existing services and development of new services, focusing on safety and quality. 

As a member of the Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group you will have an opportunity to inform and shape our work and to share your experience of using pharmacy services. 

Expressions of Interest are now being sought for service users and carers to join the Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group

Why your views matter

We are asking people who are service users and carers to join the Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group and have their voice heard.

The Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group aim to:

• Improve the experience for people who use pharmacy services and ensure the safe use of medicines and;

• Help the SPPG pharmacy team understand how to provide better pharmaceutical services and safer use of medicines

"Our regional community pharmacy service user group has been an excellent example of good meaningful practice whereby our have heard, valued and impactful! Seeing tangible actions coming from our lived experience voice for e.g. feeding back on some pr material on inhalers and diabetes and even more significant seeing community pharmacists getting training into signposting carers! I look forward to seeing what else we can achieve." Service User, Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group

Skills and experience required

• Have personal experience of using pharmacy services or caring for someone using pharmacy services.
• Have the confidence to question and/or challenge areas of work which will be considered by the Pharmacy Personal & Public Advisory Group.
• Have the ability to build relationships with other service user/carer groups.
• Have good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to listen to the views of others.
• Undertake further training as required.
• Have awareness of, or willingness to be informed about pharmacy and safe use of medicines in Northern Ireland.
• Have access to on-line systems and a working knowledge of on-line communications platforms, (e.g. Zoom or Microsoft Teams) or the ability to become quickly acquainted.

Time commitment

Members will be asked to:

• Undertake pre-reading prior to meetings.
• Attend up to 4 formal meetings annually; (virtually and hybrid).
• Undertake work between meetings to review and comment/respond to documentation.

The role asks for input of time, skills and influence. Out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of becoming involved in this work will be covered. This can include travel, subsistence, replacement care, individual support needs, childcare costs or any other potential costs incurred in relation to Service User or Carer involvement with prior agreement.