Local pharmacist, Patrick Kennedy, has been striving to gain a pharmaceutical licence for almost three years.

As Patrick explained: "I have a pharmacy in Rasharkin and whilst working there, I was approached on a number of occasions by patients from the general Dunloy area about the lack of pharmaceutical services in Dunloy. I conducted a detailed investigation into the population levels and the range of healthcare services available in the area. It became very obvious, in my opinion, that a pharmacy was needed for the people in the Dunloy area. Following a series of meetings and hearings, final approval for the pharmacy was granted in February of this year".

The pharmacy occupies a prime location in the village at the lower end of the Tullaghans Road where it meets the Bellaghy Road and Main Street.
The pharmacy is a bright modern building offering all the facilities you would expect in a modern pharmacy. Patrick said: "We wanted a design that incorporated a fully fitted consultation room into the building which would allow the pharmacy to provide a wide range of additional services. The finished building has more than exceeded our expectations and the consultation room will also enable us to bring in other healthcare practitioners to provide their services."

The new pharmacy will initially provide employment for six people with the Pharmacy Manager and Pharmacist, Aileen McGlade, leading a team of five staff.
Aileen state: "I am really looking forward to the opening on 26th May and can't wait to provide as good a service as we can for the people of Dunloy and the surrounding area. We are lucky in that one of our staff, Dympna McAfee has moved from Kennedy's Pharmacy in Rasharkin and this has been really useful in helping to get the pharmacy set up. The other employees (Siobhan Doherty, Nicola McKinley, Helen Brogan and Siobhan Quinn) have all been helping to get the pharmacy ready for the opening day and like myself, they are all very excited."

Collection of Prescriptions
The pharmacy will provide a full Prescription Collection Service from all local Health Centres. Patients and Customers should check with the pharmacist or pharmacy staff for the collection arrangements for their respective health centres.

Furthermore, there is also a delivery service for those people who are housebound or are unable to visit the pharmacy for whatever reason. Patrick explained: "Sometimes people are unable to leave their home due to illness or indeed due to caring duties for a relative or child or due to the absence of transport during the working day. We are happy to deliver completed prescriptions to the patient's home should this be necessary. The only proviso we have, is that patients telephone us (276 57803) with sufficient notice to allow us to schedule their delivery.

Generally, as long as we have the prescription, we will be able to deliver that same day provided we know this is needed before 2.00pm".
This service enables patients with minor ailments (who do not pay for their prescriptions) to visit their local pharmacist who is then able to prescribe items to treat their condition. This relatively new scheme has been designed to help patients access treatment more readily by visiting their local pharmacist without the need to wait on an appointment with their GP. In turn, this also means that GPs should have more time to deal with other patients. The list of Minor Ailments treatable under the service has recently been expanded and now includes;
l Coughs and Colds
l Sore Throats
l Hay Fever
l Diarrhoea
l Head Lice
l Threadworms
l Athlete's Foot
l Sweat Rash
l Vaginal Thrush
Patrick says "we already provide this service in Rasharkin and since the advent of the new "smoking ban in the workplace", we have noticed an increase in the numbers quitting cigarettes. Our programme has been extremely successful with up to 90% remaining quit after 4 weeks and approximately 50% still off cigarettes 12 months later. This is a very satisfying part of our work as we see the great sense of achievement people have in giving up what is a very difficult to stop habit. There is no doubt that giving up smoking is not easy but the long term health benefits are huge.

Managing your Medicines
This programme is especially useful for those people who are taking a number of medications and find the organisation of this difficult or confusing. Kennedy's Pharmacy staff are happy to assist people in explaining their medication and helping to minimise any potential side effects they may develop. For some patients, it can be helpful to have medications dispensed in special packs which leave it easier to understand when and how to take their medication each day. Anyone, who thinks this service may be of help to them should ask their pharmacist to advise them on the possibilities.

Visting Practitioners
The new pharmacy in Dunloy is delighted to welcome a number of private practitioners who will be using the fully fitted private consultation room. These practitioners will take bookings for their services either directly or via the pharmacy staff. These practitioners include;
• Martina McGarel is a podiatrist who is already well known in the North Antrim area with her "Fitter Feet" clinics in Kennedy's Pharmacy, Rasharkin and in the Frocess Medical Centre, Cloughmills.
• Marie Connolly is a very experienced aromatherapist and reflexologist and again is taking bookings for the new pharmacy in Dunloy.
• Barbara Mills practises in the field of kinesiology and can include food sensitivity testing as part of her consultation. Again, Barbara can take appointments directly or via the pharmacy staff for the new pharmacy in Dunloy.

Wide range of other services within the pharmacy
As expected of any modern pharmacy, Kennedy's Pharmacy, Dunloy offer a wide range of toiletries and perfumes. The pharmacy will stock Essence and Max Factor Cosmetics as well as a wide range of baby foods and nappies. The pharmacy is happy to exchange "Healthy Start Vouchers" for baby milk purchases.

Service for the Community
It is obvious talking to Patrick, Aileen (the pharmacy manager) and all the staff that they are very enthusiastic about the new pharmacy service they are about to open in Dunloy. Aileen says, "I hope we are able to provide an excellent service for the community in the Dunloy area and we all can't wait until Tuesday to get started in our lovely new surroundings."