Passionate pharmacists become the voice for their fellow colleagues

Thirteen trainee pharmacists who are passionate about being a voice for their fellow colleagues volunteered to undertake the role of Midlands trainee pharmacist representative.

The role involves attending a monthly meeting with three members of the HEE Midlands Foundation Pharmacy team. The first of which took place this month. Two or three representatives on a rotational basis will also attend a stakeholder meeting with the wider organisation. The role is a developmental opportunity that will enable the representatives to develop their leadership, networking, and communication skills. It involves representing the trainee pharmacists' voice at these meetings and shaping the programme for future cohorts as well as feeding back key messages to their fellow foundation trainees. The volunteers said they would like the role to enable them to:

• develop their confidence when communicating with their peers;
• raise and communicate ideas to help improve the foundation year programme for the remainder of this year and for future years;
• connect and meet other trainees from other integrated care systems (ICSs), and hear their perspectives;
• strengthen their leadership skills;
• improve their confidence;
• support others to get their voice heard;
• share new ideas and strategies to the wider organisation;
• develop their professionalism;
• develop their teamwork skills;
• expand their professional network;
• provide an opportunity to demonstrate further evidence towards their e-portfolio;
• shape the education experience in a 'bottom up' approach;
• improve their organisation skills;
• improve their management skills;
• improve their listening skills;
• become more assertive and help with personal growth;
• work with and get to know HEE better;
• gain an understanding of what it takes to deliver the foundation year programme;
• provide suggestions to balance the expectations of their peers and HEE;
• contribute towards improving patient care;
• be a part of positive change; and
• gain skills which will benefit their future practice.

Our representatives include:

• Morgan Strange
• Jaipreet Johal
• Ka Chun Yau
• Anna Wroblewska
• Hannah Flucker
• Katie Glover
• Thea Hannigan
• Anisa Sheikh
• Jaspreet Nandhra
• Letisha Brown
• Hanan Jiyad
• Hamza Khan
• Maithilie Sellathurai