11/07/2025
Have you met Ben Eaton our new Chair?
Ben has been part of Community Pharmacy Derbyshire (Derbyshire LPC) for 15 years. We caught up with him find out more about why he joined and what he is hoping to achieve during his tenure. Over to you Ben!
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ?
Currently Iโm Pharmacist/Procurement Manager for DEAN & SMEDLEY,LIMITED as well as IPA representative on the LPC.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ?
Iโve been on the LPC since 2010. I applied to join the committee so I could represent all the local contractors and, ultimately, the patients of Derby to make sure community pharmacy is high on the agenda of the representative NHS bodies. By pushing the availability and skill mix that Pharmacy can provide, we can help to improve the health of the public we represent.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ?
To make sure all contractors are represented and that all the decision makers use and fairly compensate community pharmacy.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฒ?
This is a pivotal time for community pharmacy. We have seen the launch of Pharmacy First, alongside the relaunch of the Hypertension Case-Finding and Oral Contraception services initiatives that pharmacies have embraced despite ongoing economic challenges. Alongside this we have the new CPCF with additional funding. Further investment and longer-term funding plans are urgently needed but, as Chair, I am committed to advocating for all contractors across Derbyshire and pushing for support that we all need.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐?
Communication is key. I will always be a first point of contact alongside our amazing team of officers within the committee. Taking contractors concerns, listening and acting upon them is key to successful relationships across the area. Our team will always advocate and push for pharmacy teams to do more and to be fairly paid for the services they provide.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ/๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐?
Iโm passionate about all areas of pharmacy, from the up-to-date, evidence-based advice we provide, without appointment, to the independent prescribing services we are now providing in many community pharmacies. But my big passion is pushing vaccination services. Being able to improve the health of our area and help prevent long-term health problems from many viruses, just by providing a vaccine, to me is amazing. The accessibility of community pharmacy means that many more people and hard-to-reach groups can access these services. I hope many more vaccines will be provided from community pharmacy in the future, with the appropriate reimbursement.
