Dr Catriona Bradley reflects on the common connections between pharmacists
Earlier this year, I was invited by Irish Pharmacist’s Editor to submit an article for publication in the May issue of the magazine. After chewing my pencil for a while, I wrote an article on perfectionism in pharmacy, titled ‘Perfectly Imperfect’. I have long believed that perfectionism is an issue worth discussing in pharmacy, and I genuinely enjoyed writing the piece. Two unanticipated consequences followed.
First, the response from pharmacist colleagues. The article clearly struck a chord, and I am grateful to those who took the time to share their thoughts through email, on social media, and in person. Most confirmed that they had encountered perfectionism in pharmacy, with many attributing the trait to how we are trained. Some described the paradox of trying to combine “robotic-like” perfection in dispensing with the human touch required for patient care. Others described how perfectionism hindered career progression or strained professional relationships. A few shared strategies for “unlearning” perfectionistic tendencies.
Common themes emerged: Openness to new experiences; willingness to learn (and unlearn); and comfort with ‘good enough’. Some simply offered words of thanks or encouragement. It was heart-warming to connect with colleagues — some familiar, most not. Their engagement made the writing more rewarding. I felt connected and part of something bigger.
The second consequence was the invitation to become a regular columnist. It dawned on me that the original invitation may have been a trial run before a bigger ask. More pencil-chewing ensued and this time the decision took longer.
First thought: I’m not a writer — I’m a pharmacist. What could I possibly have to say that’s worth writing, let alone reading? My brain started to go into overdrive, searching for worthy topics. I felt stressed.
Next came practical concerns: How would I do this? Do I have the time? Can I juggle it with my other commitments? Why add more stress to an already busy life? My brain shifted to logistics. The stress lingered.
Then came deeper questions: Why do this? Does it align with my values? Does it achieve anything? I was beginning to explore the ‘why’. And with that, I felt calmer.
I reflected on the experience of writing the first article — the sense of connection, of being part of something bigger. I love that writing fosters connection.
I remembered the common threads from the responses: The importance of new experiences and the value of learning and unlearning. Writing,
I realised, offers opportunities for personal and professional growth.
People often tell me that I think differently to others. Alain de Botton argues that writing is thinking — I find his perspective compelling (his YouTube interviews are worth exploring). Writing helps develop thinking, and I love that.
I reflected on who I am, what I do, how I do it, and what I love. My passion for continuous development — personal and professional — is central to my identity. Over the years, I have benefited from reading articles from Irish Pharmacist’s contributors and columnists. Maybe it’s time for me to step up, to contribute more proactively to the field of development that I love.
Once I clarified my purpose, the stress eased. As Nietzsche said, “He who has a why… can bear almost any how”. The ‘why’ is our purpose; the ‘how’ is the path, the challenges, the effort. Simon Sinek expands on this in his book Start with Why — “Working hard for something we don’t care about is stress. Working hard for something we love is passion”. I realise that my ‘why’ is my love for learning, connecting, sharing knowledge, and developing thinking within my profession. This ‘why’ will make writing worthwhile for me.
So, here I am, pencil in hand again — this time with a plan for how I can make time to write, ideas for content, curiosity for emerging issues, and a caveat that I’ll review the arrangement in a few months. With the decision made, I’m ready to move forward, armed with a plan, a positive mindset, and a renewed sense of purpose. Suddenly, the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ feel much more manageable.
It strikes me that my recent ponderings may echo those of pharmacists across the country as they read the recently-published Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025. On first reading, many pharmacists
likely focused on the ‘what’: What does this mean for me, for my pharmacy, for my patients? What new things are now expected? What’s optional, what’s not?
Quickly those thoughts probably shifted to the How: How will we implement this? How will we find time or capacity? How does this fit into an already busy pharmacy practice? These action-oriented thoughts may have felt stressful, especially for those already under pressure.
Yet underpinning all of these operational questions lies a more fundamental question of purpose. What is the purpose of a community pharmacist? What is the purpose of a community pharmacy? These questions may seem glib, but they merit discussion.
As I child, I saw the pharmacy as a place to collect medicines. In college, the focus was on becoming a medicines expert. My early career centered on dispensing. Later,
I became involved in health promotion services, which were then considered ‘nice to do’ rather than core to the pharmacist’s role. The potential of the community pharmacies as health and wellness hubs — and the pharmacist’s role in that space — were largely overlooked by the Irish health system.
It is heartening to see this shift in the new Agreement, where both dispensing and non-dispensing services are formally recognised, valued and funded.
Not all pharmacists will see the new Agreement as an opportunity. Some may view service provision as a distraction from the core role. Whether you see it as positive or negative is likely to depend on your own perspective — your values, your sense of what it means to be a pharmacist — your ‘why’.
- If it is your belief is that community pharmacy’s role is dispensing, your focus will naturally remain there. You may be disappointed that there isn’t a greater increase in fee-per-item, and you may to be skeptical of expanded services. In that case, opting out of advanced services might be wise to prevent resentment and stress. Focus instead on achieving clinical and operational excellence in dispensing. Dispensing is a crucial role.
- If you see community pharmacies as health and wellness hubs, where pharmacists and their teams add value through screening, immunisation, and advanced services, then the Agreement’s recognition — both in word and funding — should be energising. You may be disappointed that some services are optional. Opting in to service delivery will likely feel aligned with your purpose. Focus on achieving clinical and operational excellence in both dispensing and expanded service delivery.
- If your vision extends further, encompassing medicines optimisation and further innovation, then this Agreement offers even more. Opt-in to the advanced services, focus on achieving excellence in dispensing and service delivery, and explore opportunities to pilot new initiatives. Collaboration between academics
and practitioners will be needed, and it’s encouraging that the Agreement supports evidence-based innovation.
One of the strengths of this agreement is its flexibility. It accommodates diverse views of pharmacy practice, enabling pharmacists to choose a level of engagement that aligns with their why.
However, there’s a significant caveat: Decisions about levels of engagement with the Agreement rest with contractors (ie, pharmacy owners) rather than employees. This is not a problem where contractors and employees share strong professional alignment. But where their purposes diverge, tension and stress may follow. It is important that contractors and employees are clear about their pharmacy’s purpose, and that this is supported with an appropriate operating model.
It will be fascinating to see how this Agreement shapes community pharmacy in Ireland. If its commitments are upheld, and we must assume they will be, we’ll see improvements in working conditions, reduced administrative burden, better IT integration, and an increase in non- dispensing services.
I suspect we may see divergence in practice: Some pharmacies focusing on dispensing, others expanding their scope. The future of pharmacy isn’t just being written in policy documents, it’s being shaped by each of us, every day, in how we choose to show up. Whether your purpose lies in dispensing, wellness, medicines optimisation, or elsewhere, the opportunity to align your practice with your passion has never been greater. So, ask yourself: What’s your ‘why’? And how will you achieve it?
Dr Catriona Bradley is a pharmacist and psychologist and currently works as the Executive Director of the Irish Institute of Pharmacy. She’s particularly interested in exploring psychology in pharmacy and always welcomes pharmacists’ views & comments in this area at catriona1.bradley@gmail.com.
