I am passionate about reaching out to the younger generation and showcasing pharmacy as a career. I believe forward planning and encouraging new recruits into the profession as well as the NHS will ensure stability and sustain a vital service for the future. As part of my passion for helping to inspire the next generation, I have been fortunate enough to be involved in supporting year 10’s in mock interviews, as well as showcasing a career as a pharmacist to year 6’s, 7’s, and 11’s. I have also been able to show different elements of pharmacy to the 4-5-year-old Squirrels group, which is part of scouting. They found counting smarties, using a stethoscope, looking at various placebo inhalers, and seeing how thick the British National Formulary is really enjoyable!
The younger generation’s thoughts of a pharmacist were someone who worked in a shop giving out medicines, so I was able to list many of the various careers within pharmacy such as working in community to hospital, military of defence, prison, clinical primary care roles, and in the research and development of medicines.
Some of the questions I have been asked at a number of these sessions have been an insightful way for me to reflect on my own career in pharmacy. Questions have included, “what’s the best part of your job?”, ‘what inspired you to be a pharmacist?” and “why did you choose to work in the NHS?” The answers to all of these for me is the centric point, the patient. What we do each day in our working lives impacts on patients. Being able to support a patient and make a difference to them, I find, is rewarding and fulfilling.
I also feel it is an honour to be able to encourage and impact on the younger generation into a career in healthcare. Even if only a few pupils are encouraged to take on a career in pharmacy, it would be positive step.
When I look back on my school days and there was no positivity or forward thinking from my teachers. I was told that, ‘girls don’t take 3 Science A levels’. I had to fight my corner in order to do these to then be told, ‘you won’t get into pharmacy, it’s too competitive and you are not very clever’. These were not inspirational words to a pupil wishing to embark on a career in healthcare wishing to help and support others. However, drive and motivation got me there. Now when I am speaking to younger pupils and children about their career and pharmacy, I always remember how important it is to be positive and to inspire them to be the best that can through hard work, dedication, and from support around them.
We can all think about how we may encourage the younger generation in their careers, even if this is just talking to your children, family, or friends about what your role involves and the different career paths within pharmacy and the NHS. It’s important to remember that pharmacy has evolved over the decades and the roles within primary care and GP practices did not exist when I qualified 28 years ago. These conversations just may make a difference to a young mind and you will have encouraged a new generation of pharmacists!
By PDA Rep in an ICB and PDA Regional Committee member, Jyoti Saini
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