1. Enhancing Patient Experience
Patients do not experience avoidable harm from medicines. Patients are supported by pharmacy teams to keep well, focusing on self-care, prevention, and early detection of illness. All patient facing pharmacists are actively prescribing wherever the patient needs them.
Sam Fisher (Chair)
Sam Fisher studied at the Welsh School of Pharmacy in Cardiff and registered as a pharmacist in 1997 before attaining her MSc in Clinical Community Pharmacy.
Sam held various pharmacy field-based operational roles including Regional Director for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and leading key business transformation programmes such as automation and centralisation of dispensing at Lloyds Pharmacy, before becoming Head of Pharmacy Affairs for McKesson UK.
Passionate about the evolution of pharmacy and its future role within the wider healthcare agenda, Sam has over 10 years’ experience as a Board director of the Company Chemists Association, board member of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and Vice Chair of Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).
Sam is currently Vice Chair of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee and Chief Pharmacist for Primary Care and Medicines Optimisation at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
Brian Moon
After my retirement from the Welsh Assembly where I advised on ICT, which included Health Informatics, I have been a Board member of Community Health Councils Wales (CHC) which was the patients' advocate in the local delivery of Health services. Currently, I am a team inspector with responsibility for patient perspective with Health Inspection Wales (HIW). I am also work with Health Education in Wales (HEIW) as a lay representative involved with competency reviews and service recruitment of health professionals.
I am passionate about the delivery of Health services in Wales and the engagement of the public in their delivery, with a particular interest in care of the elderly, and I am looking forward to being part of the team delivering better Pharmacy services.
I retired from the Welsh Assembly Government, where I had responsibility for ICT advice in Public Service Organisations across Wales. Subsequently, I was Chair of the Community Health Council (CHC) for Bridgend, Neath and Swansea and as such I served on the National CHC Board for Wales where supersede CHC’s by covering both Health and Social Care. I am currently a Lay Member of Health Education in Wales (HEIW) – my tenure ends April 2022 - and on the Board of the Welsh Assemblies Pharmacy Delivery Board, currently developing strategy for the role of Community Pharmacies in Wales.
I am applying for the role of a Non-Executive Board Member on either a two-, three- or four-year term.
I am passionate about the delivery of Health and Social Care and engagement of the public in the delivery of services in Wales, with a particular interest in care of the elderly.
Sally Davey
My name is Sally Davey and I am the Chief Pharmacy Technician (Patient Experience) for Hywel Dda University Health Board, based in Glangwili General Hospital.
I live in Swansea I have three children and two fluffy children (dogs!).
My pharmacy journey began in community pharmacy where I was employed as a counter assistant, progressing to a dispenser and then gaining my pharmacy qualifications. Having decided that I wanted to progress further and having a passion to work for the NHS, I applied for a job in Glangwili and have been here ever since, all of 25 years!
Throughout my career I have seen many changes which have come with their challenges, but at all times we ensure that the patient is at the forefront of the positive outcome. I am excited to be part of the future for Pharmacy Technicians and deploy their exceptional skills and talents further for the benefit of our patients.
Ali Sparkes
Ali Sparkes is the Director of Happiness & Technology at The Health Dispensary, Neath, South Wales. Eight years after qualifying as a Pharmacist, she bought her childhood pharmacy which has evolved to an award-winning Pharmacy + Wellness brand, just 500 yards from her birthplace.
Ali’s mission is to Inspire Healthy Happy & Hopeful living, her passion for self-care leading to postgraduate qualifications in wellness coaching, social research and the co-creation of a Prescribing Happiness course. Loving innovation, she is an early adopter of technology, seeing it help with a happier workplace and enhancing customer and community connection.
Professor Delyth H James PhD, MSc, BPharm, FRPharmS, FHEA
Delyth is a Professor of Health Psychology in Pharmacy Practice within the School of Sport and Health Sciences at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She is a registered pharmacist with over 35 years’ experience of working in clinical practice in London and the Southeast of England and in academia (in England and Wales, previously Cardiff University).
Professor James’ research draws on psychological theory to address problems which are central to the way people use medication. She works at the interface of a range of other disciplines such as Digital Technology and Art & Design to inform intervention design. Her specific areas of interest are in developing visual communication to support medication-taking, designing complex interventions in healthcare, and educating professionals to conduct effective consultations to support behaviour change.
Delyth is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and Fellow of the Higher Education Authority. She is a member of the British Psychological Society and Division of Health Psychology. She has been a member of a NHS Wales Research Ethics Committee since 2018 and the Pharmacy Research Wales steering group since 2014.Over her career, Prof James has secured funding awards totalling nearly £2 million, published over 100 outputs, and presented widely at national and international conferences. She is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice.
Martina Aikon
Third year pharmacy student at Swansea University.
Pharmacy is an ever-changing profession with countless opportunities to develop knowledge and support patients.
I am looking forward to graduating and qualifying as part of the first cohort to come out as independent prescribers.
I am excited to experience how the new changes can help improve patient health outcomes and propel forward the pharmacy profession!
Sian Evans
Sian Evans is a senior public health professional with over 25 years’ experience working in different sectors of the NHS with a passion for primary care. She is a Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Wales and a registered pharmacist.
She started life as a community pharmacist and since then has held a number of positions in Wales leading small teams and national pieces of work to influence the public health, NHS settings, medicines management, workforce development and healthcare professional agendas.
For the last few years, Sian has pursued her interest in climate change and is working across the system in Wales to enable others to take action to improve the planet.
Fiona Jeanes
I'm Fiona Jeanes; I'm a Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technician in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, which is part of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
I started working for the NHS nearly 11 years ago as a Cardio-thoracic Theatre assistant firstly in University Hospital of Wales and then in the Royal Glamorgan. The patient experience I gained from this and observing different medications intrigued and inspired me to apply for an ATO position within the hospital pharmacy.
I thoroughly enjoyed my ATO position and wanted to expand my career and knowledge and set myself a goal of becoming a Medicines Management technician. I was fortunate enough to gain a position as a Pre-Registration pharmacy technician and qualify later this year. Seeing how the roles of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and ATO's are developing into more patient facing clinical roles is exciting, and being involved within this setting means we can provide a more efficient service and safer care to our patients and community.
I'm passionate about making sure that our patients get the best pharmacy experience possible and am privileged to be able to make a difference to Delivering a Healthier Wales and hopefully inspire future Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians to do the same.
Aled Roberts
Aled is a community pharmacist and IP, who qualified from Cardiff in 2008, completed a postgraduate certificate in clinical pharmacy and therapeutics at Keele in 2019 and returned to Cardiff in 2022 to complete his independent prescribing qualification.
He currently works three days a week at Community Pharmacy Wales, providing support to community pharmacy contractors across Powys, Cwm Taf and Betsi Cadwaladr Health boards. Aled leads on collaborative working and the Accelerated Cluster Development programme for CPW, supporting the 60 Community Pharmacy Collaborative Lead roles across Wales. Aled also works as a community pharmacy locum delivering all of the nationally commissioned services including the independent prescribing service.
Mark Ireland FRPharmS
After studying at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Mark completed his preregistration training at the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust where he continued to work in the early years of his career.
He joined Alliance Pharmacy as a pharmacy manager in 1996 and held several positions within the pharmacy retail chain including five years in international business development roles. Following the merger with Boots in 2006, Mark was appointed Head of Strategy and then moved to his current role as Director of Pharmacy Contract Development in 2009.
Mark has extensive experience in the development of pharmacy contracts and services across the UK and Europe. Mark was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 2018 and has sat on the board of Community Pharmacy Wales since 2014.
Thomas Sauter
I attended Cardiff School of Pharmacy and registered as a Pharmacist in 2015 before completing the IP course at keele University in 2020. I started my career as a Community Pharmacist and am currently working in Bridgend, Integrated Community Services.
I am particularly passionate about delivering integrated care to support people to remain in their own homes providing a key link between Primary and Secondary care. My current role has been instrumental in implementing patient-centered practices, where I have led initiatives to improve medication management through the development of a Digital Medicines Management Service.
Catherine Pollard
My name is Catherine Pollard and I am the Pharmacist Team Leader for Unscheduled Care in the Emergency Quadrant in Glan Clwyd hospital, North Wales.
I qualified in 2003 from Bradford University and before moving back to North Wales worked as a junior pharmacist in Wirral University Teaching Hospital and then the Countess of Chester hospital as a Teacher Practitioner with Liverpool John Moores University.
Working in a busy Emergency Department I see the challenges we currently face and am excited by the opportunities that Pharmacy:Delivering a Healthier Wales proposes to improve the patient experience.
Sarah Hulse
I am the Blood Borne Virus Lead Pharmacist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and last year successfully completed the RPS consultant pharmacist credentialing process. I work across the three integrated health care communities in North Wales looking after people living with HIV and viral hepatitis.
I have been qualified as a pharmacist for thirty years working mainly in secondary care in a variety of hospitals in England before taking up my current role in BCUHB. In North Wales I have developed a rapid test and treat pathway for hepatitis C in the community which has helped provide treatment for marginalised communities who find it difficult to access care via traditional pathways.
I am passionate about reducing health inequalities and delivering patient-centred care to ensure the best outcomes and experience for patients.
Debra Roberts
Debra is a registered pharmacist with experience in community pharmacy and academia who is passionate about education. She is currently Associate Pharmacy Dean, Head of Programme Development and Advanced practice at Health Education and Improvement Wales, where she is responsible for leading on the development of innovative courses and creation of eLearning, that upskill and equip the entire pharmacy workforce to meet the changing needs of the profession.
She graduated from Cardiff University before working for 10 years as a community pharmacist for Boots, holding a number of management positions within pharmacies in South Wales, before starting her academic career at Cardiff University, initially as a Continuous Professional Development tutor, before becoming Head of Programme development. Debra also has a number of post graduate degrees in therapeutics and digital education. In 2018, when Health Education and Improvement Wales was created, she took up her current role, taking on additional responsibilities for advanced practice, including independent prescribing.
Debra’s areas of expertise include e-Learning development, leadership and consultation skills and she teaches a range of these skills, in a variety of HEIW programmes for qualified professionals. She is keen to develop the role of pharmacy across Wales and sits on the RPS Education and Standards Committee, RPS Advanced Pharmacist Assessment Panel, National Extended Management Board for community pharmacy services.
Geraint Llion Young
Geraint Llion Young is a passionate and experienced pharmacy technician with over 14 years of NHS experience. Known for his friendly and approachable nature, Geraint excels in building strong relationships with colleagues and patients alike through his collaborative approach.
In his career, Geraint has held senior positions in primary care, where he has led teams and implemented innovative pharmacy services. A natural problem-solver, he thrives on challenges and is always eager to find creative solutions.
Geraint has contributed to shaping the future of pharmacy by participating in national initiatives and has previously held the role of Professional Lead for Wales with APTUK. During his tenure at HEIW, he helped develop an education and training strategy for pharmacy staff, identifying workforce needs, and engaging with stakeholders.
Currently, Geraint serves as a Senior Pharmacy Technician for Health Board Managed GP Practices with the East IHC BCUHB. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys endurance challenges and loves to push himself. He is constantly seeking new challenges, whether in his professional projects or personal goals. Committed to continuous improvement, Geraint strives to optimise pharmacy services and enhance patient experiences.
Jock Andrew
It is great to be a part of Llais, I am really looking forward to doing my small bit in facilitating, empowering and promoting the voices of the people of Wales in helping to improve and promote best practice in Health and Social Care.
I think some of my previous employment experiences will help me to do this. I have worked for nearly four decades in Health, Social Care and the independent sector, in a range of roles, all of which have enriched me both professionally and personally. Predominantly this has been focussed on supporting people described as having a learning disability. I have provided direct support, led and supported others to do this, designed and set up services and done so collaboratively and in partnerships across Health and Local Authority organisations.
I have been paying attention along the way and hence have learnt a great deal; indubitably the most valuable learning has come from people with lived experience of receiving supports, and their families, more significantly in the most recent 14 year period. Prior to this I thought that I and other professionals knew best, take your pick from delusional, egotistical or arrogant!
I am keen to continue learning and will take every opportunity to do so in the hope that I can contribute to making a positive difference.
I live with my partner Nicola and four year old Staffie, Dexter. I like walking, bird song, photography and live, rock, music.
Diolch yn fawr.
George Watkins
I'm the Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer for Mind Cymru. My work focuses on improving the experiences of people across Wales with mental health problems.
Recent things I have worked on include inpatient mental health care, reducing inequalities around accessing the right support services and developing a new Mental Health Act. I want to see a pharmacy system that works for everyone.
As the son of a pharmacist, I've grown up knowing the impact they can make to a whole community.
Pharmacies are a vital service that can help people with mental health problems feel supported and valued.
Andrew Woods
My name is Andrew Woods, I am a Senior Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician working as part of the Community Health and Wellbeing Team in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
I have been fortunate throughout my career to work across different sectors of pharmacy, starting out in community before moving into secondary care and now primary care. My current role is centred around the ideals of A Healthier Wales, providing integrated, seamless care closer to home for those that need it most. The Community Health and Wellbeing Team brings together health and social care professionals, along with the third sector, enabling me to deliver a holistic approach to patient care.
I am passionate about providing person-centred care and empowering patients to make best use of their medicines in a way that is both safe and effective.
Katie Evans
She qualified as a pharmacist in 2009, initially working as a rotational hospital pharmacist. Her interest in mental health developed early in her career when she completed a mental health rotation as part of the clinical pharmacy therapeutics diploma program at Cardiff University. In 2013, she took up a specialist mental health role and never looked back.
Katie has worked across several health boards within S.E. Wales and various mental health specialties, including CAMHS, acute adult (PICU and general), rehabilitation, older persons, addictions, low - medium secure forensics and learning disabilities.
Whilst Katie’s roles have often provided steep learning curves, she loves the challenge, variation, fast pace, and wealth of colleagues she has grown to know professionally and personally.
Katie completed the psychiatric therapeutics certificate and diploma with Aston University, passing both with distinction and was thrilled to receive the Helen Tennant Award for highest overall performance in 2020. She is currently undertaking a research MSc in Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice at Aston.
Katie has also worked as an external assessor for Aston University on the psychiatric therapeutics program and is an ongoing tutor for the independent prescribing course with Cardiff University. She is a credentialed member of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP) and sits on the CMHP Council as their Consultations Lead.
Her current role consists of working as a prescriber in a community mental health team alongside her hospital duties. The latter includes providing pharmaceutical care to acute adult and low-secure forensics wards. She is also chair of a medicines management group, specifically for clozapine treatment.
Outside of work, she is a busy mum, wife and keen DIY’er with a love of tilling.
Dr Sarah Hiom, BPharm, MRPharmS, PhD.
Sarah is the National Specialist Pharmacist - Research & Development, based at St Mary’s Pharmaceutical Unit - C&VUHB. She chairs Pharmacy Research Wales, is a board member for Pharmacy Delivering a Healthier Wales and sits on the Enhancing Patient Experience subgroup. Sarah is passionate about research and helping professionals to embrace research as part of their day-to-day practice.
Sarah is a registered pharmacist with over 35 years experience of working in hospital, community, and academia. After studying at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Sarah completed her hospital pre-registration training in Oxford before returning to Cardiff for a PhD in Pharmaceutical microbiology.
She worked in Technical Services before being appointed to the Welsh National Specialist role for Research and Development. Sarah has subsequently led on the development of a Pharmacy Research Strategy for Wales [2015-2020] and established research networks such as Pharmacy Research Wales and a National Technical Services Research Collaboration between NHS and academia.
Sarah established a personal research portfolio in Technical Services exploring formulation and clinical efficacy of topical gabapentin for neuropathic pain and the use of rapid microbiological methods to improve the microbial quality assurance of bespoke parenteral nutrition.
Sarah is looking forward to developing and supporting the research agenda for Pharmacy: Delivering A Healthier wales.