Anjlee Shah (Community Pharmacist, Farlington Portsmouth)
I’ve been recently appointed as a Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) representative on Hampshire and IOW LPC Community Pharmacy South Central (CPSC), and am very excited about this new role. I’m involved in the PDA Union as I truly believe in the PDA’s ethos. I’m proactive in the PDA’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Networks as I feel that it’s fundamental to have adequate representation and connect with our peers. I’m passionate about the welfare of my fellow pharmacists and raising awareness of the PDA. Seeing the PDA secure trade union recognition for LloydsPharmacy, especially during HeartUnions week, was extremely welcomed news. I have applied to be a union representative for my colleagues in LloydsPharmacy with the goals of engaging and empowering Lloyds pharmacists to have a strong voice in any employment issues or concerns.
I am grateful and proud of what the PDA and everybody involved stand for and have achieved and I urge pharmacists to join if they have not done so already!
Anne Davies (COMMUNITY PHARMACIST, SOUTH WALES)
I qualified as a pharmacist in 1990 and have worked in community practice since then, mainly as an employee, but also doing some locum work. I first joined the PDA when I saw how colleagues had been helped by the PDA support team. I continue to be involved with the PDA as I strongly believe in what the association stands for, i.e. looking after the interests of individual pharmacists. This is especially important as workplace pressures continue to increase, and I believe in the PDA’s commitment to helping to improve patient safety and care through the improvement of working conditions.
Anne is part of the PDA Union Boots Reps Network.
Heelen Shah (Community Pharmacist, Abingdon)
As a pharmacist who has worked in various roles, including community, hospital, and locum sectors, I feel that I have a wide scope of insight within the profession. I currently work as a PCN pharmacist in Hampshire and would like to highlight and address issues primary care pharmacists face daily. I am involved in the PDA Union as I truly stand by its values and aim to increase my reach to fellow pharmacists about the many benefits of joining a union.
Jyoti Saini (Primary Care, Walsall)
I qualified in 1997 having worked in community pharmacy, academia and have over 18 years experience in Primary Care as well as working as an active Independent Prescriber. I am aware of the pressures that can be placed on clinical pharmacists within General Practice and whilst working within a multidisciplinary team.
As the role of the pharmacist has evolved more of us are moving into PCN and CCG positions, I want to support members in being confident to work within their scope of competence as well as being able to work in a safe environment to enhance patient safety.
I have been a PDA Union member for many years and additionally, I am now a PDA Union representative in the workplace. I would like to support my colleagues within this sector to ensure we are fully represented and to encourage those that are not part of the union, to consider the benefits of being a member of the PDA Union.
Marium Javed (Hospital Pharmacist, Walsall)
I have been a hospital pharmacist from my pre-registration year 2008-2009. During this time I have seen many unfair situations with work colleagues and I feel they could have benefitted with support from the PDA. I have now been given the opportunity to help colleagues.
Nayen Chauhan (Community Pharmacist, Leicester)
I have been a pharmacist for 10 years and have had various roles in the pharmacy sector. I now work for an independent pharmacy. Pharmacy has been ever-changing and the difficulties for pharmacists are increasing. I want to make a difference in the lives of pharmacists and to be a voice for pharmacists who are unaware that support is available for them to help with any issues they may face. Pharmacists are and should be respected professionals.
Neera Goel (Primary Care and Locum in community, Solihull)
I work in a number of roles, within pharmacy, including being a Senior Clinical Pharmacist in a PCN, in the West Midlands; a locum community pharmacist; an ambassador for Pharmacist Support, the profession’s independent charity; and as a bank pharmacist for the GPhC and mark revalidation submissions, by pharmacy professionals.
I became involved with the PDA Union because I believe everyone should join a union. A union will fight for your rights and empower you, as knowledge is power. The PDA Union has fought for our rights and safety and will continue to do so. I want to be part of this movement and spread this knowledge to others.
Ovie Barovbe (Community Pharmacist, Plymouth)
A pharmacist qualified and practising in the UK community sector for 13 years. Got involved with the PDA Union to help my fellow pharmacists and to look out for their best interests while in the profession.
Richard Evans (Locum Pharmacist, West Wales)
I have been a pharmacist for over 40 years, the last 12 years as a locum in the community. I wanted to get involved with the PDA Union so that I could contribute to its work of representing all pharmacists, whichever sector of the profession they work in.
Helen Lewis (Co-opted Locum Pharmacist)
I’ve been a community pharmacist for over 30 years and have seen many positive changes to the profession in that time. I joined the PDA Union to ensure I had independent support in the workplace, and then I became a Trade Union Rep to support and empower colleagues who need their voices heard.
I also support the PDA Union by delivering professional risk management workshops to pharmacy students with the aim of empowering the next generation.
Michal Lamparski (Hospital pharmacist, North Devon)
I qualified as a pharmacist in Poland. I worked as a community pharmacist both there and in community pharmacy in the UK. I now worked in the NHS in North Devon. I am an IP in respiratory medicine and have an Advanced Clinical Practice MSc degree specialising in respiratory care. I am passionate about the NHS and a great advocate of advanced clinical practice pharmacists.
Get in touch
The West and Wales Regional Committee meets regularly to discuss pharmacy within the region. They would like to hear your views on pharmacy, and you can get in touch by emailing west@pda-union.org or wales@pda-union.org with insights and comments on general issues. Individual concerns should be directed to the PDA Member Support Centre for advice.