In conversation with Nick Kaye, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association and a forward-thinking experienced pharmacist, we explored how his approach to pharmacy and his vision can serve as a practical guide for pharmacists across the UK.

Ahead of the Pharmacy First launch

Nick’s pharmacy in Cornwall has positioned itself at the forefront of innovative healthcare delivery. Embodying a forward-thinking approach that predated the official Pharmacy First initiative, Nick highlights “In Cornwall, we’ve actually been trailblazers with this.” Implementing a comprehensive walk-in consultation service, Nick’s pharmacy, along with 82 others in the region, has successfully conducted nearly 20,000 consultations over approximately 20 months.

By anticipating the need for more accessible healthcare services, the pharmacy has established itself as an innovator in the sector. The success of this program showcases pharmacy’s ability to lead in patient care innovation and offers valuable lessons on how community pharmacy can take “pressure off the system as a whole.”

Delegating is important for creating a positive workplace

Nick’s approach to managing community pharmacies highlights the essential role of delegation in creating an efficient and attractive workplace. Nick offers guidance, saying, “My primary advice… is not to fear delegating tasks. With a robust training programme and the employment of additional pharmacists or checking technicians, we can ensure pharmacists focus on their highest-value activities.”

Through delegating, pharmacists are freed up to tackle more complex clinical issues, whilst building a workplace that encourages team effort, reduces stress, and makes sure everyone feels valued and motivated. This can go a long way to attracting the skilled professionals that are so important for the pharmacy sector’s future success.

Nick continues to say that as pharmacists, this can “sometimes be difficult for us” to which he also says “be kind to yourself and remember all the things you do for all the people that you wouldn’t know have positively touched their lives”

Providing a pharmacy voice in the community through ICB engagement

Nick’s experience with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) shows how much pharmacists can influence the healthcare system and make pharmacies more visible. He moved from a role on the Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) to being a non-executive director on the ICB, which gave him a new perspective on how pharmacists can raise their profile and be involved in key decision making.

Nick encourages other pharmacists to get involved with their local ICBs and reassures that engaging with ICBs isn’t as daunting as it might seem, saying, “Be brave, it’s not as scary as you think it is. Everybody doesn’t know everything. And no question is a daft question.”

Believing that his presence at ICB meetings has raised the profile of community pharmacy to the level of other primary care services, Nick suggests, “Just being in the room, even if you don’t feel confident at first to say much, is still a really important part of being visible.”

According to Nick the best way to get started is to “Reach out to local medicines optimisation pharmacists, chief medical officers, or even CEOs. All that information is out there. Be brave and go for it.”

Conclusion

Nick’s insights and actions suggest practical steps for community pharmacies to thrive. By focusing on patient service innovation, smart delegation, and engagement with ICBs, pharmacies can improve the experiences of their staff and patients.  This path forward involves embracing change and collaboration. Creating such an environment means that community pharmacies can be greater than the sum of their parts.

Date of preparation: May 2024 UK-Gen-NP-01415

About Nick Kaye

Nick Kaye BPharm MRPharmS is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (Reg No 2047799).

He is a third-generation community pharmacist; he graduated from Bradford University in 1998, and trained as a pre-registration student in a family run community pharmacy and at St James University Hospital Leeds. Since qualifying, he has worked for an independent pharmacy, as a locum and prescribing advisory for the Newquay doctors group. Nick was the Superintendent Pharmacist of Nick Kaye’s Pharmacy in Newquay in Cornwall between 2011 and 2017. During that time the pharmacy won several awards including, C&D finalist 2013, Pharmacy Business award winner Entrepreneur 2012 and Alphega pharmacy of the year 2013. Nick is an NPA national media spokesperson and was also involved in the Key Note Speaker’s Panel at the Pharmacy Show 2013.

He was elected to the NPA Board in 2014 to represent the South West; he is a member of Cornwall and Isle of Scilly LPC and the Chair of the Peninsula LPF. He is also a partner at Veor Surgery in Cambourne, Cornwall.