In January 2020, NAWP started its 115th year of enabling all women pharmacists to realise their full potential and raise their profile by being educationally, socially, and politically active. NAWP became part of the PDA forming the PDA NAWP Network and becoming our first EDI Network. In April 2020, we launched three further networks, the PDA BAME Network, the PDA Ability Network, and the PDA LGBT+ Network.
In this issue:
- Reflections on a HIV quality improvement project
- PDA Ability Network attends The Pharmacy Show 2024
- Islamophobia training
- NAWP attends the 18th European Women Pharmacists Meeting
- Advice for women on making the most of their money
- NAWP raises money for Wear it Pink
- Discrimination – What can I do?
- In case you missed it
- Get involved
Reflections on a HIV quality improvement project
During my undergraduate studies, I was fortunate enough to undertake a placement within Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s large HIV service. I learnt lots about antiretrovirals, research, and the management of complex/late-stage HIV. So, when I was asked during my pre-registration training year if there was any specialty I would like to do my quality improvement project in, HIV quickly sprang to mind.
I created a 30-minute teaching session and delivered this to the pharmacy department. We asked attendees to fill out an anonymous questionnaire before and after the session, to gauge how their understanding of HIV treatment had changed.
What we found was a significant knowledge gap regarding HIV. I received lots of feedback from colleagues that they were not aware of PrEP or that once someone has an undetectable viral load, they cannot pass on the virus through sexual contact (U=U).
I found this surprising on two levels. Firstly, I would have expected that qualified healthcare professionals would have been aware of these major breakthroughs regarding HIV. Understanding how to prevent, treat, and reduce onwards transmission of all infectious diseases is critical for ensuring population health.
And secondly, on a personal note, I thought it unusual that so many of my colleagues had not encountered these concepts already in their day-to-day lives. As a member of the LGBT+ community, this information is hard to miss – and rightly so!
All healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, should welcome opportunities to educate themselves and their patients about what HIV looks like today. Whether it be signposting patients who may benefit from PrEP, helping maintain compliance for those on treatment, or even supporting NHS trusts to roll out ‘opt-out’ HIV testing – we all have a role to play in ending HIV.
PDA Ability Network attends The Pharmacy Show 2024
Last month, the PDA Ability Network took part in a PDA session at The Pharmacy Show, at the NEC in Birmingham.
The session, which took place on Sunday 13 October, outlined the campaign’s key asks, such as employers making appropriate and ongoing reasonable adjustments and members ensuring they understand their rights. It also covered the results of a survey carried out by the PDA, which showed that 52% of respondents said that they had experienced disability discrimination at work.
During the session, PDA Ability Network members, Jyoti Buxani, lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton, and Qamarunissa Hamad, primary care pharmacist, spoke of their experiences of disability. Jyoti spoke about her “superpower” of dyslexia, and the impact of being diagnosed in her 30s and Qamar shared the challenges of losing her hearing whilst a student and how this did not stop her pursuing her dream to become a pharmacist.
Jyoti said, “I had an amazing opportunity to support the PDA Ability Network by talking about my journey as a dyslexic and working pharmacist. I was able to support the session, talking candidly about my views and experiences in raising the awareness of dyslexia within the pharmacy profession. After a journey that started at the age of 34, as an adult, I have become comfortable addressing the support I may require, in the way of adaptations to software, and how I work with other individuals.
I emphasised that there was no ‘one size fits all’ approach, as everyone will process information and work differently. Although this was a significant step to speaking out about this subject area with the Standing Up for Sitting Down campaign, there is a lot of work to be done in raising awareness around hidden disabilities within pharmacy. We must help the future generations to thrive and work together, in the ever-changing pharmacy landscape.”
Qamarunissa said, “It was an absolute delight to share my own personal experience on this platform at The Pharmacy Show. I felt that I was able to get my message across and tap into the reality of living with a disability in today’s world as a healthcare professional. Having the support of the PDA has helped me get to where I am today as a pharmacist! Please continue to support our campaign, Standing Up for Sitting Down.”
Islamophobia training
By Jayne Love, PDA Organiser and Equalities Lead
I attended training on Islamophobia on 25 September which was organised by NHS England and delivered by Stop Hate UK, the national charity whose mission is to combat hate, and is independent from the police.
A hate crime is any criminal offence motivated by prejudice and hostility towards a person’s identity or perceived identity. Hate crimes relating to disability, race, religion/faith, sexual orientation, and transgender identity are monitored nationally. Stop Hate UK also responds to other hate motivations such as misogyny, alternative subculture, and age.
There are various definitions of Islamophobia, but it is broadly understood to mean the fear of, hatred of, or prejudice against the religion of Islam or people of the Muslim faith in general. There is no legally binding definition of Islamophobia. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims’ working definition of Islamophobia is that it is rooted in racism and that it is a type of racism which targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness. While this definition is not universally accepted, it has been supported by a range of Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain.
Tell Mama supports victims of anti-Muslim hate and is a public service which also measures and monitors anti-Muslim incidents. The charity documented 2,010 Islamophobic incidents between 7 October 2023 and 7 February 2024, which was a steep rise from the 600 it recorded for the same period during the previous year.
Victims of anti-Muslim hate are encouraged to contact Stop Hate UK or Tell Mama, though in an emergency please call 999.
The session addressed myths around Islam and Muslims, which was particularly useful. I look forward to attending future equalities training provided by NHS England and hope to see PDA members there.
Learn more
NAWP attends the 18th European Women Pharmacists Meeting
By Ayah Abbass, NAWP Immediate Past President and Clinical Pharmacist
This year was the 18th European Women Pharmacists Meeting, which took place in Thessaloniki on 5 October 2024. The title of this year’s conference was ‘Working around the clock: Work-life balance of women pharmacists’.
The PDA NAWP Network have been supporting the conference every year to help empower and support women pharmacists. I have been part of the committee to help organise this event and I am so honoured to be part of such an incredible team to support each other. Past NAWP Presidents who attended the 18th meeting included Dr Christine Heading, Monica Rose, Hazel Baker, Anita White, and myself.
We had incredible speakers focusing on how women pharmacists try to balance their work and personal lives by looking at different topics and finding ways to help us thrive at work whilst looking after our mental health.
I wanted to take this moment to thank the Panhellenic Association of Hospital Pharmacists (PEFNI) for organising this amazing event, especially Despoina Makridaki who is part of EWPM and was the main person organising the meeting this year.
Most importantly, this year was very special as we celebrated 20 Years of EWPM and honoured one of the founders, Antonie Marqwardt with the DAB’s Certificate of Honour! We hope to carry on with our EWPM work to ensure a better future for women pharmacists.
Finally, I am delighted to announce that the 19th EWPM will be in Vienna, Austria.
Advice for women on making the most of their money
How can you improve your financial stability, conserve the capital (money) you earn and nurture its growth to progressively create a large sum of money? This article suggests actions that you can take right now and suggests organisations to facilitate learning more about finances and how to increase your wealth.
Firstly, let’s look at why this is so important for women. Gender inequality in care responsibility, career progression, and investing all adversely impact women. Though the gender pay gap has been declining gradually over the years, in April 2023 it was at 7.7%. Additionally, there is a large difference in the gender pay gap between employees aged 40 years and over and those aged under 40 years. Women are also more likely to provide unpaid care than men and are often too busy looking after everyone else to spend time investing in their financial future.
Wealth generation and financial wellbeing are strongly linked due to loss of earnings, lower earnings, and reduced financial literacy. It is therefore particularly important for women to take charge of their finances, starting at any age.
You should:
- Add up your monthly income and work out your monthly outgoings.
- Consider any wealth accrued in savings, bonds, ISAs, pensions, or elsewhere.
- Review what your money is being spent on and compare this to your short, medium, and long-term life goals.
NAWP raises money for Wear It Pink
Last month, the NAWP Network participated in Wear it Pink. The charity event, held on Friday 18 October, raises money and awareness for Breast Cancer Now and is one of the biggest fundraising events of the year.
The network raised £160 this year and put together a poster of their photos to show their support and raise awareness.
Lourette Latif Philips, the President of the NAWP Network said, “The Wear it Pink campaign is vital in raising awareness and money for research and support. It is an international campaign in which I was privileged to be involved both in the UK and Egypt. Thank you to NAWP members, PDA members and staff for dressing in pink and raising money. By continuing to talk about breast cancer all year round, we can contribute to public health and patient support.”
The NAWP Network has taken part in the annual charity event since 2021 and has raised a total of £820 for Breast Cancer Now.
Discrimination – What can I do?
By Gordon Finlayson, PDA National Executive member for Scotland & Northern Ireland and PDA National Rep at Boots
One of the unsung achievements of trade unions is education. Education is core to achieving an equitable and prosperous society for all. Without education we cannot achieve our full potential or encourage others to achieve their goals.
As a PDA Workplace Rep, I have taken part in many training events and one area in which I have benefited most is around discrimination.
For full disclosure, I am white, male, over 50, and live in a part of the UK with a non-diverse population.
I think it would be fair to say that I am not aware of being discriminated against either at work or in my personal life. Since becoming a PDA Workplace Rep, I am now more aware of what discrimination is and how it can affect individuals. Prior to this role, I think it would be fair to say that I would have probably been unaware of episodes of discrimination around me. Is that something I am proud of? No, I am not, and I must accept that as someone who belongs to an ethnic and gender group of privilege, I have a responsibility to stand up against discrimination.
To understand discrimination, I feel that we must look at our collective history and listen to those who have been discriminated against.
At both the PDA and General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), ensuring that discrimination is tackled is a core aim and to support this both organisations run training courses. In the last 12 months I have attended the GFTU course ‘Roots of Racism’ and the PDA Reps training course ‘Recognising and Tackling Discrimination.’
These courses have given me an insight into what discrimination is, what the causes of discrimination are, and how to identify and stand up to discrimination.
Some of the stories I have heard from others on the courses made me question our society in 2024 and has, I hope, made me open my eyes to what is going on around me.
A politician once said ‘education, education, education’, and I would strongly encourage all members to expand their view of our society and discrimination by using the resources that are available to all members, through PDA Education and other organisations we are affiliated to such as the GFTU.
Learn more
In case you missed it
- ADHD Awareness Month 2024
- Addressing racial undertones in the language of pharmacy
- PDA LGBT+ Network attends Manchester Pride 2024
- Lourette Latif Philips elected as the 50th President of NAWP
Get involved
Membership of the PDA’s EDI Networks is open to all UK pharmacists, former pharmacists (e.g. retired or taking a career break), and all UK pharmacy students and trainee pharmacists. This is regardless of age, race, gender, sexual identity, disability, nationality, hours worked, or employment status. Pharmacists do not need to identify as BAME, disabled, LGBT+, or as women in order to join those networks. All networks welcome allies, people who will support equality and fairness for all.
You do not need to be a member of the PDA to join, though PDA members do benefit from a discounted membership fee. PDA members can join a network for £10 per year, retired members for £20 per year, and non-PDA members for £30 per year. In accordance with our support for future pharmacists, membership of the networks is FREE for PDA student members and trainees (PDA student and trainee membership is also FREE).
- Join the PDA Ability Network
- Join the PDA BAME Network
- Join the PDA LGBT+ Network
- Join the PDA NAWP Network
- Follow the PDA EDI Networks on social media using the hashtags, #PDAability, #PDAbame, #PDAlgbt, and #PDAnawp.
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