Community pharmacy teams considering the introduction of weight management services were encouraged not to let perfection stand in the way of progress during the NPA After Hours Exchange event held on Wednesday 3rd June.
The evening event followed the NPA Scotland Spring Forum, bringing together pharmacy contractors, independent prescribers, industry partners and service providers to explore the opportunities, challenges and practical considerations involved in developing successful weight management services within community pharmacy.
Hosted by PharmacyShows in partnership with the NPA, the event was moderated by Lynette Clarke and featured a panel comprising Sehar Shahid of 24hr Pharmacy and NPA Scotland Board Member, Anthony Luby of Right Medicine Pharmacy and Aidan Connolly of Denny Pharmacy. Drawing on their own experiences of launching and growing services, the speakers shared practical advice for pharmacies at every stage of their weight management journey.
With audience polling revealing that many attendees already had established services they were looking to expand, while others were still considering their first steps, the discussion focused on overcoming barriers, maintaining patient safety, building patient trust and creating sustainable service models.
Don’t Wait for Perfection
One of the strongest messages to emerge from the evening was the importance of getting started.
While many pharmacy teams can become caught up in developing the perfect service before launching, the panel agreed that experience, patient feedback and continuous improvement are often the most valuable tools for refining a service.
Aidan explained that many of the perceived barriers to launching a service often prove less significant once pharmacies take the first step.
“There are loads of things we thought we needed that we actually didn’t,” he said, encouraging contractors to utilise the support, prescribing frameworks and service platforms already available.
Anthony echoed this view, explaining that Right Medicine Pharmacy took a proactive approach when launching its service.
“As clinicians, we can sometimes fall into analysis paralysis, where everything has to be absolutely perfect before we start,” he said. “The reality is that you learn as you go.”
The panel encouraged attendees to focus on establishing safe foundations and then continuously refining services as experience grows.
Governance Remains Essential
While encouraging pharmacies to take action, the panel stressed that governance and patient safety must remain central to any service.
Sehar highlighted risk assessments, prescribing protocols and ongoing auditing as key foundations of a successful service.
“The biggest mistake is writing your SOPs and never looking at them again,” she explained.
Instead, Sehar encouraged pharmacies to view governance as an ongoing process, regularly reviewing services, learning from patient experiences and adapting procedures where necessary.
The panel agreed that continuous improvement is far more important than attempting to predict every possible scenario before seeing the first patient.
Building Patient Trust
Despite operating through very different business models, all three panellists agreed that patient relationships remain the key to long term success.
Aidan described how Denny Pharmacy focused on creating a highly personal service, supported by educational content and direct patient access to pharmacists throughout their treatment journey.
Similarly, Sehar explained how her online pharmacy model was designed to replicate the trust and familiarity often associated with traditional community pharmacies.
“A lot of online services are transactional,” she said. “We wanted patients to feel like they knew us and could access support whenever they needed it.”
For Right Medicine Pharmacy, face to face support and accessibility have been central to patient engagement, with many patients initially approaching pharmacy teams directly to enquire about available treatments.
The discussion highlighted that whether services are delivered in person, online or through a hybrid model, trust remains a critical factor in patient retention and long term success.
More Than Weight Loss
The discussion also explored the wider impact these services can have on patient health.
Beyond the numbers on the scales, panellists highlighted improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes management, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life.
Anthony described weight management as one of the most rewarding areas of clinical practice.
“You see the difference not just in weight, but in confidence, relationships and overall wellbeing,” he said.
Several panellists also highlighted the growing role of additional services such as blood testing, lifestyle support and ongoing clinical monitoring in delivering a more holistic approach to weight management.
Sehar explained how obesity should increasingly be viewed as a chronic health condition rather than simply a number on a scale, helping pharmacy teams have more meaningful conversations with patients about long term health outcomes.
Looking Ahead
Despite ongoing discussion around NHS access to obesity treatments, the panel remained confident that opportunities within pharmacy will continue to grow.
With new treatments entering the market, expanding prescribing options and significant unmet patient demand remaining, all three speakers agreed that there is still considerable opportunity for community pharmacies to develop and expand services.
For those yet to begin, the message was clear: start small, learn continuously and focus on delivering excellent patient care.
Industry Support and Innovation
Alongside the panel discussion, attendees had the opportunity to hear from a range of organisations supporting community pharmacy through technology, clinical governance, procurement, business development and professional support.
Representatives from BeWell, Cambrian Alliance, DigiPharma, ConsultTed, Edinpharm, Nuumad, Novo Nordisk, NPA and Christie & Co shared insights into the tools, services and expertise available to help pharmacies develop sustainable clinical and private service offerings.
Topics ranged from prescribing platforms, consultation systems and patient engagement tools through to procurement support, governance solutions, business development, professional guidance and pharmacy market expertise.
The supplier showcase provided attendees with the opportunity to explore practical solutions that could help them launch, develop or scale private services within their own pharmacies, while also exchanging ideas with peers facing similar challenges.
Learning Through Collaboration
The evening concluded with a networking session, allowing contractors, pharmacists and industry partners to continue discussions and exchange ideas.
Hosted by PharmacyShows in partnership with the NPA, the After Hours Exchange provided attendees with the opportunity to learn from peers, explore innovative solutions and discuss practical approaches to growing clinical services within community pharmacy.
Supported by a range of industry partners and suppliers, the event brought together expertise from across the sector, creating valuable opportunities for pharmacy teams to discover new ideas, share experiences and identify practical solutions that can be implemented within their own businesses.
As community pharmacy continues to evolve, events such as the NPA Scotland Spring Forum and the After Hours Exchange play an important role in helping pharmacy teams build confidence, embrace innovation and identify new opportunities to support patients while developing sustainable pharmacy businesses.
For many attendees, the key takeaway from the evening was a simple one: success does not come from waiting for the perfect moment. It comes from taking the first step, learning from experience and continuously improving along the way.
