Wessex 09 was the culmination of nine months work by a volunteer team from all sectors of pharmacy who form the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain local branches in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight together with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Local Pharmaceutical Committee.
Over one hundred delegates gathered at the Novotel in Southampton for a packed day of presentations, exhibitions and small group discussions on a wide range of subjects broadly linked to cardiovascular disease.
We were very fortunate to be able to welcome two leading lights in pharmacy, Jonathan Mason – National Clinical Director for Primary Care and Community Pharmacy and Martin Stephens – National Clinical Director of Hospital Pharmacy. They described the progress in the first year since their appointment. Pharmacy now has a much higher profile at national leadership level in policy making and planning for improved patient care. Many projects are happening around England which highlight the contribution pharmacy can make. Both directors identified the need for pharmacy to work across the gap between hospital care and community care, as so many patients experience medicine – related problems after being in hospital. Another key message was the need for community pharmacies to record interventions and demonstrate the benefit of care they provide for patients.
The conference also provided clinical updates in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, plus a splendid session on how we can maximise our opportunities to develop pharmacy practice with recognition and remuneration!
The sponsors’ exhibition room was also the hub for coffee throughout the day and was buzzing with conversation as people talked to colleagues and exhibitors. The conference would have been impossible without a generous CPD grant from RSPGB plus significant contributions from our kind sponsors.
To keep people focused on topics, there were also interactive sessions throughout the day which covered such diverse subjects as a demonstration of vascular check devices, development of Healthy Living Pharmacies, update on the medicines management of stroke, techniques to communicate risk to patients, innovations in cardiac care – post myocardial infarction, Electronic Prescription services, exercise and activity advice, medicines management of patients entering and leaving hospital and how the Isle of Wight developed the greatest number of enhanced services in England.
Feedback from the day included:
It was very useful to see EPS in action and to update on the use of IT for health checks in pharmacy.
I was pleased to hear about developments and opportunities such as the Healthy Living Pharmacy.
I was excited to hear about innovations in pharmacy practice in our region as well as the opportunities I might have to develop
It was an ideal opportunity for CPD.
It was exciting to hear what is happening at a national level from the National Pharmacy Directors
In conclusion- we had a splendid time and could be very keen to plan a 2011 Wessex Local Practice Forum conference. Pharmacists value the opportunity to meet and hear about innovation! We hope you will not only join the new professional leadership body, but get involved with the planning and success of future regional events.
For more information on Wessex 09 and future conferences and activities of Wessex Local Practice Forum please email me at jane.portlock@port.ac.uk
Dr Jane Portlock
Conference chair, on behalf of the conference team:
Gary Warner, Patrick Leppard, Janet Bowhill, Deborah Evans, Michael Holden, Mike Bland and Sue Carter