una o’farrell (LOCUM pharmacist, northern Ireland)
I have worked exclusively as a locum throughout Northern Ireland, and I have experience in a broad spectrum of practice in the community. I have been a Pharmacy Lead in the Causeway integrated care partnership and through this gained an understanding of where pharmacy sits with the wider health landscape.
Since becoming the PDA National Officer for Northern Ireland, I support the Regional Committee and have had insight into the issues affecting both hospital and GP Federation pharmacists. In this post, I am able to nurture my commitment to motivate pharmacists to take part in discussions relating to issues that affect them, whilst taking steps towards creating a unionised workforce that’s in line with other healthcare professions.
I am also a Board Member of The Pharmacy Forum NI, and now frequently work in private practice in central London as well as in NI.
The PDA is affiliated with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). If you are a member in Northern Ireland who would like to get more involved in PDA activity, please contact me.
Andrew Cheung (Hospital Pharmacist, Acute Care at Home, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast Trust)
I have been qualified as a pharmacist for 6 years, but have worked in pharmacy for almost 10. Before transferring to the Hospital Pharmacy sector two years ago I managed a busy Community Pharmacy in the city centre and it was at that time that I joined the PDA Union. Having worked my way through the ranks from Voluntary Pharmacy Student to Shop Assistant to Pharmacy Assistant to Second Pharmacist and then to Pharmacy Manager, I appreciate and can recognise the often complex and difficult situations that our colleagues face day to day – hence my involvement in the PDA Union to help support and shape our ever-changing profession for the better. Currently, I am focused on helping to improve the Hospital Pharmacy work environment in being more inclusive and culturally aware.
Catriona O’Neill (Primary Care Pharmacist, Belfast)
Since qualifying as a pharmacist in 2013, I have gained experience of working across both secondary and primary care interfaces, most recently working as an independent pharmacist prescriber in general practice.
I have been a member of the PDA since graduating and have seen first-hand the excellent work the PDA has achieved in representing the viewpoints of pharmacists. Given the increased number of pharmacists now working in primary care it places me in an ideal position to ensure my profession is well supported and represented.
Chand Kausar (Locum Pharmacist, Greater Glasgow, Clyde and Lanarkshire)
I am a Locum pharmacist in community pharmacy for the last 10 years and have been a part of the PDA since the beginning of my career. I have also been a part of the regional committee for the last 15 months. The reason I want to be a part of the PDA Union is because they represent pharmacy and pharmacists from our perspective and I believe this is imperative for our collective growth as a profession.
Emma Richmond (Community Locum, Edinburgh)
I am a community locum pharmacist with many years of experience with a background in ethics. I became involved with the PDA Union to help to protect and defend pharmacists against injustice and to promote the profession to the public.
Gordon Finlayson (Community Pharmacist, N.E. Scotland)
I have over 30 years of experience in the community pharmacy sector. I have worked for various employers in different locations throughout the UK. I got involved with the PDA Union because I wanted to be part of an organisation that puts pharmacists first. It is a great honour to be able to help pharmacists when they are in need of assistance, whether that is an employment or professional issue.
Iain Speirits (Primary Care Pharmacist, Glasgow)
Since qualifying in 2002, I have spent the majority of my career in general practice as a prescribing support pharmacist. I have always retained a specialist interest in cardiology and now work 0.4 in post-MI and heart failure.
I am involved in PDA Union to help ensure that individual pharmacists’ voices are better heard and represented, so that we may further develop our profession in a clinical direction to provide best possible patient outcomes.
Laura Kearney (General Practice Pharmacist, Northern Ireland)
I have worked in Primary care for 4 years as a General Practice Pharmacist and for about 14 years before that as a Community Pharmacist. I am passionate about promoting pharmacy as a profession and in particular in Primary Care where we are fairly new to the team
Leon O’Hagan (Locum Pharmacist, Northern Ireland)
I have been a qualified pharmacist since 2003 and joined the PDA Union while I was working in England in 2009. Having seen first-hand the excellent work the PDA do for pharmacists, I felt compelled to assist in any way I could, and it was an easy decision for me to volunteer any free time for the PDA Union.
I believe a strong union empowers pharmacists to express their skills and professionalism to the benefit of their patients and I’m excited to be working with colleagues in Northern Ireland to represent and support pharmacists locally.
OLIVER KEARNEY (COMMUNITY PHARMACIST – BANBRIDGE, CO DOWN)
After becoming registered in 2000 in England, my career path has covered much of northwest England in pharmacist support and store manager roles. I was an LPC member in Liverpool and Trafford/Salford LPC as well as part of the community pharmacist steering group with the Salford Lung Study.
I’m a passionate community pharmacist who is keen to further the role of my fellow professionals in today’s modern healthcare environment as we deal with unprecedented change applying our skills and leadership as only pharmacists do.
PAUL FLYNN (LOCUM PHARMACIST, SCOTLAND)
I am a locum pharmacist in Scotland, after being a store manager with Boots for 15 years.
As the PDA National Officer for Scotland, I support the activities of the Regional Committee and also coordinate the PDA Reps Network in Boots.
The PDA is affiliated with the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC). If you are a member in Scotland who would like to get more involved in PDA activity, please contact me.
get in touch
If you wish to contact any of the committee members, please email National Officer for Scotland, Paul Flynn at scotland@pda-union.org or National Officer for Northern Ireland, Una O’Farrell at ni@pda-union.org.