‘Shaping the Future’ at the Annual Ashtons Conference 2022

On the 13^th and 14^th October 2022, Ashtons national clinical team met for our 12^th Annual Conference. Our clinical pharmacists and other specialist healthcare staff, who are based UK-wide, spent two days at the Voco® Oxford Spires Hotel attending a series of talks designed to deepen their understanding on a range of clinical topics.

Shaping the Future

Ashtons is the leading provider of pharmacy services to independent health care providers and has been established for over 25 years working with mental health hospitals, hospices, ophthalmic and surgical sites and more recently GP Primary Care services and care homes as part of our ever-expanding portfolio. Our unique approach, with particular focus on innovative technology and software solutions, allows us to shape future pharmacy services for the independent healthcare sector. Our recent rebranding aims to shine a new light on our core values and investing in our staff through education and training, supporting and valuing their development and progression is key to our philosophy.

Keynote speakers

Dr Charles Daniels, Medical Director at St Luke’s Hospice Harrow and Macmillan Consultant in Palliative Medicine at the London Northwest University Healthcare Trust. The topic ‘Optimisation of Hospice Pharmacists’ was jointly presented with Edman Lo, Ashtons pharmacist, and provided practical guidance on how specialist pharmacy services can improve palliative care. Hearing Edman’s personal journey into mental health and palliative care pharmacy was inspiring and motivating.

Matthew Roberts, who is the Lead Pharmacist for early intervention in psychosis at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, discussed the ‘Assessment and Management of Psychosis.’ Matthew, a former Ashtons pharmacist and founding member of the Early Intervention in Psychosis Pharmacists Network, shared his knowledge and experience in his uniquely accessible style.

Professor Ramalingam Chithiramohan, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust and visiting Professor of Psychiatry at University of Madras is currently involved with the World Psychiatric Association in delivering education in low- and middle-income countries. Professor Chithiramohan provided a fascinating insight into the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as its assessment and management.

Clinical insight from Ashtons Pharmacists

Our annual conference is also a great opportunity for our clinical team to share their expertise:

• ‘Facing Challenges Through Innovation’ (Tomasz Wojcik Service Development Lead)
• ‘Palliative Care and Mental Health Clinical Interface’ (Karen Higlett Lead Pharmacist Palliative Care and Peju Vaughan Clinical Supervisor)
• ‘Using Feedback to Improve and Understand Hospice Services’ (Lesley Spencer Palliative Care Ambassador)
• ‘Primary Care Case Studies’ (Irfan Mirza Head of Ashtons Primary Care Services)
• ‘Thinking Outside the Box – improving ways of working’ (Yogesh Patel, Clinical Supervisor)

These informative presentations were a testament to the dedication and passion that our pharmacists and colleagues have for providing optimum treatment options and patient care.

Thank you to all involved in creating an excellent couple of days of learning and development!