Philip Boyle
Academic qualifications and date awarded
BSc Hons in Pharmacy QUB 1994
Professional awards and date awarded
Registered August 1995
Professional Appointments
Appointed ICP pharmacy lead Down, South Eastern LCG
Professional experience
Upon attaining my Pharmacy degree at QUB, I did my preregistration year with FJ Murray in Belfast. I worked for a few years as an assistant pharmacist in Newry, before returning to Belfast to work for Paul Cooper in Andersonstown, and subsequently my first managerial position in the Lenadoon branch.
In 1997, I started a managerial position in Crossgar Pharmacy for Frank Murray and have been in this position since. During my time here I also worked for a number of years as a sessional Practice Pharmacist, and have worked through various community projects in the area giving talks to local and regional community groups. I was also an active member of the LHSCG in the Down area, the UCA Membership Representation Forum, and participated in various health strategies with other Community Pharmacy colleagues.
When the Electronic Prescribing and Eligibility System (EPES) pilot was launched in the Down area in 2006, I worked with Community Pharmacy colleagues, DHSSPS, CPNI and McLernon Computers to determine and monitor the various challenges associated with an electronic prescription transmission and claiming system. This in effect was the introduction of the 2D barcodes seen on current prescription forms.
I have subsequently participated and led various level 1&2 BCPP projects with organisations including the charity MindWise, where I worked alongside people with mental health difficulties, providing them with information and support to empower them to live more active, healthy lives.
I am currently the Down ICP Pharmacy Lead and have worked on various projects including the Caring for Carers service- a new Community Pharmacy partnership scheme with the South Eastern LCG and the SEHSCT, aimed at providing support to carers in the community in the South Eastern Trust. Through ICP I have participated in a number of Dementia ECHO video conferences to connect clinical experts with primary care clinicians. In this way, GPs, pharmacists, nurses and other clinicians learn to provide excellent speciality care to patients in their own communities.
In 2016 I supported the CPNI Community Pharmacy Intervention Survey, which highlighted the value of the 15 million annual healthcare interventions Seen through the Northern Ireland Community Pharmacy network. The survey results were presented at the “Community Pharmacy ….the best kept secret” launch in November where I was one of the guest speakers.
I continue in my work as a Community Pharmacist, actively promoting health and social wellbeing ( having won the Pharmacy in Focus award for two years), and encourage the Active Ageing Strategy 2016-21 to enable more people to live longer active healthier lives in the future, whilst ensuring that there is appropriate support when it is needed.