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Hospital pharmacists association of ireland

Articles

We welcome articles for submission for publishing up on the website. The opinions held in the posted articles do not necessarily represent the views of the HPAI. We encourage discussion over in the member's forum. 

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  • 16 Nov 2017 12:15 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Basic and Senior Grade Pharmacists

    At present there is no formal route to specialisation in Hospital Pharmacy; this is in contrast to many of our professional colleagues in Dietetics and Physiotherapy for example who have a clinical specialist grade.


    This means that many highly qualified (77% of hospital pharmacists hold a related post graduate qualification) and experienced pharmacists are working as unrecognised, and often underutilised, specialists in clinical areas.


    The Hospital Pharmacy Review recommends the establishment of a Clinical Specialist Pharmacist grade; this reflects the contribution Hospital Pharmacists make to patient care in complex and key specialities.








  • 16 Nov 2017 12:08 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    What is the Hospital Pharmacy Review?

     

    The Hospital Pharmacy Review (sometimes known as the Career Structure Review) was published in November 2011. The review aimed to create a structure for Hospital Pharmacy to best facilitate a consistent delivery of pharmacy services in line with best practice and recognised international standards. The current structures and grades, Basic, Senior, Chief II and Chief I were implemented in 1978 and in no way reflect the current complexity and specialist knowledge that is required to manage medicines in a modern hospital. In 1986 the HPAI notified Health Service Management of the need to conduct a new review in order to match changes in practice in European countries and further abroad.

    The Review itself suffered much delay. In 1990 the PSI launched their “Commission of Inquiry into Pharmacy” which recommended a career structure overhaul. Unfortunately there was no restructuring after this report, however the 1990’s saw Hospital Pharmacists introduce specialisations that had a profoundly positive effect on patient safety and cost effectiveness. These specialisations included clinical pharmacy and aseptic compounding. In the next decade, specialisations were extended to include medication safety pharmacists and antimicrobial pharmacists. In the last decade, IT developments, cluster pharmacy services and automation projects, although isolated, emerged within hospital pharmacy and pointed to the next generation of creative developments.

    A second review of structures within hospital pharmacy was approved by the Department of Health and Children in 2001. In 2005, the Department of Finance agreed to the finalisation of outstanding

    reviews, such as that of hospital pharmacists, where service improvements were involved. Further delays were however incurred due to the establishment of the Health Service Executive (HSE) on January 1st 2005 and the commencement of the Pharmacy Act on the 22nd May 2007. In late 2009, Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin was appointed as Chair of the Review of Hospital Pharmacy.

    In December 2011 the Hospital Pharmacy Review was signed off by the HSE and the HPAI and the expectation was that the Review would then proceed to implementation. However, despite the repeated efforts of the HPAI negotiation team, not a single aspect of the Review has yet been implemented.

     

    Report on the Review of Hospital Pharmacy 2011 with 2102 JD included.pdf

  • 16 Nov 2017 12:04 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The career structure implementation is badly needed - pharmacists are working as specialists without the commensurate support and recognition. The path has been long and challenging, here is a roadmap of the journey.


  • 17 Aug 2016 9:10 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Abstract Opening will commence soon. Please note now, that Abstract closing date will be final and will be around end of December

    The HPAI conference is a showcase of the work of Hospital Pharmacy - new ways of working, successful changes, patient outcomes impact, audits and research.

    A great opportunity to network with friends and colleagues from hospitals around Ireland.

    Read more

  • 16 Aug 2016 11:26 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    In order to join the HPAI as a member you must also be a member of the IMPACT union. Please see more information on IMPACT both here on our site and on the IMPACT main site. In order to give more information on the benefits of IMPACT membership a recent video has been produced.


    Learn more

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About the association

The Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland (HPAI) is a voluntary organisation that represents it members on issues relevant to hospital pharmacists.

Mission Statement

The Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland exists to:

  • further the development of hospital pharmacy practices.
  • assist in the provision of continuing pharmaceutical education.
  • represent the views of the hospital pharmacist on issues of relevance to hospital pharmacy.
  • advance the professional welfare of our members

Contacts

MembershipHPAI@gmail.com


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