PHARMACISTS in Warrington and across the North West are playing a vital role in delivering safe, effective and compassionate healthcare in the region.
So says rhe region’s chief pharmacist, Karen O’Brien in a message to mark World Pharmacists Day.
Across the NHS, pharmacists are at the heart of patient care—from hospital wards and GP practices to community pharmacies and care homes. They ensure the safe use of medicines, provide expert clinical advice and empower patients to manage their health more effectively.
Karen O’Brien said: “On World Pharmacists Day, we celebrate the achievements of all pharmacists and their teams. Pharmacists are the cornerstone of our health service, their expertise, dedication, and compassion make a profound difference in the lives of millions every day.”
Pharmacists are essential to NHS service delivery, working across all parts of the system, from commissioning to delivery of patient care. Medicines optimisation teams have supported increased use of NICE approved medicines helping to increase value for the NHS, they deliver medication prescribing review programmes, reduce overprescribing and implement pharmacy-led safety programmes, preventing thousands of patients coming to harm.
Pharmacists have led antimicrobial stewardship programmes. These programmes have led to a reduction in prescribing of antibiotics by 1.1 million prescriptions, which in turn reduces the number of people becoming resistant to important antibiotics. As part of hospital pharmacy services, pharmacists have overseen homecare services, supporting 500,000 patients annually, these services bring care closer to home and reduce hospital demand.
Pharmacy teams also play a vital role in aseptic services, which are essential for delivering life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy, intravenous nutrition, and clinical trial drugs. In the North West, 21 aseptic facilities operate across Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire and South Cumbria. The team’s contribution helps release hospital bed days, improve productivity, and ensure timely access to essential treatments.
In recent years, the role of the community phamacy has expanded significantly, with pharmacists now offering services such as vaccinations, helping to prevent hospital admissions through medicines optimisation, blood pressure checks, medication reviews and support for long-term conditions like diabetes and asthma.
Pharmacists are highly trained, and often the most accessible of primary care professionals in a community, providing expert support and advice around medicines and healthcare. In the North West, there are currently over 1500 community pharmacies providing walk-in access to health and care, without an appointment, delivering a range of key services.
Dr Paula Cowan, GP and Regional Medical Director for Primary Care said: “I can’t tell you how much I value the role of community pharmacists, they are trusted, knowledgeable, and an integral part of community care delivery.
“As a GP, I see them not just as dispensers of medicine, but as clinicians and partners in prevention, education, and continuity of care.”
Steve Riley, deputy chief pharmacist for NHS England in the North West, said: “In honour of World Pharmacists Day, I’ve been taking the time to reflect on the ways pharmacy colleagues in our region, and across the country, support us, our families and friends, every day.
“I’m proud we have this important resource available supporting and leading across the whole of the NHS. I want to thank them for their dedication and commitment to the health and wellbeing of our communities.”
