With the dramatic rise in the number of people living with type 2 diabetes there is an urgent need for more pharmacists who specialise in diabetes, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Leadership Award winner has advised.
Philip Newland-Jones, an Advanced Specialist Pharmacist Practitioner at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, won the award on Sunday 13 September for his outstanding leadership across several clinical, education and research fields within the area of diabetes, both locally and nationally.
As a member of Diabetes UK’s Council of Healthcare Professionals, Philip’s main drive is to help improve care for people with diabetes by ensuring that pharmacists in the community, hospitals and GP practices are equipped to meet their needs.
Philip said: “The NHS needs its every facet to engage with the soaring numbers of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and pharmacy is no different.
“It’s great that pharmacists are recognised in the care of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients, and hopefully this will motivate more pharmacists to develop an interest in specialising in diabetes going forwards.
“During my time on Diabetes UK’s Council of Healthcare Professionals, I have seen that there are lots of roles in England’s commissioning structures where pharmacists can get involved clinically. Specialist pharmacists have a unique set of skills that complement the more established professionals in the care of diabetes. And there is lots more room for clinical research and audits to be embedded in diabetes work too.
“Alternatively look in your local area for a way to get started – locally, I have engaged with Diabetes UK patient groups and also with GPs to talk about everything from management of the condition to insulin pumps. It’s a good way to build connections and work out what you can deliver for people with diabetes.”
Philip’s other roles include work with the Care Quality Commission, NHS England, the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association and was the first pharmacist to serve on the Diabetes Parliamentary Think Tank.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Awards programme, now in its fifth year, recognises and celebrates the achievements of teams and individuals within the pharmacy profession.
