Niamh Martin from Newtownabbey has been selected as a ‘Pharmacy Futures NI’ champion following a recent announcement from the Department of Health and Pharmacy Forum NI of the creation of more than 1,100 additional roles in the sector.

The opportunities – which will see current vacancies filled as well as new roles created in response to the development of new pharmacy services – will include up to 560 community, hospital and general practice pharmacists and over 600 pharmacy technicians.

Niamh, who recently graduated from QUB and was awarded the Pharmacy Forum NI Gold Medal Prize 2020 for overall distinction in pharmacy, will champion the Pharmacy Futures NI campaign which was launched to support the search and recruitment for the additional pharmacy sector roles in Northern Ireland.

Currently working as a pre-registration hospital pharmacist, she says the announcement signifies a bright future for pharmacy in NI. She said: “The creation of new jobs in pharmacy is really exciting. As I prepare to complete my pre-registration year and become fully qualified, it is brilliant to see an increase in recruitment of existing roles and also the emergence of new roles which I can apply for in the future.”

placeholder image — Pharmacist Niamh Martin

The latest announcement will see the role of pharmacists expand to encompass a much wider range of clinical services and will enable pharmacists a greater focus on their remit as medicines experts.

Niamh said this future expansion of the profession will allow pharmacists to further use and develop these clinical skills.