LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Questions in the pharmacy Dear Editor, Arrrrrghhhh ... why all the questions?!! With recent controversy and media attention regarding [private]access to codeine-containing analgesics over the counter from your pharmacy, this 'Why all the questions...' has come to the fore again for us in our day to day professional service. An interaction with an patient when I was newly qualified some years back has stayed with me to this day.  I asked 'Are these for yourself?' only to be asked back, 'Are you going to give me the f@%*ing tablets or not!' My jaw hit the floor and I could hardly finish this interaction. Why would I put myself in that position, you may ask? I could have just sold the patient, and customer, whatever they wanted and not been in their line of fire. Why, well because it is my job to ensure that every customer gets the most appropriate medicine for their symptoms. This will invariably involve asking questions. I want to ensure, as much as possible, that patients get the best medicines for their symptoms to ensure a speedy recovery. This is my job. This is why our staff are trained to do this and that is why many medicines are only available in pharmacies. We care that you get the most appropriate medicines for your symptoms. So the next time you're looking for medicines for your illness, work together with your pharmacist, or medicines counter assistant, to ensure that you get the best medicines for your symptoms. Expect to be asked questions in your pharmacy - it's for the good of your health! Yours etc Ultan Molloy MPSI HealthWest Community Pharmacy Ballindine Co Mayo Special Olympics Ireland says Thanks Dear Editor, I wish to pass on the gratitude of all associated with Special Olympics Ireland to your readers for their support of our annual Collection Day which took place on Friday April 15. Collection Day, sponsored by eircom, is the biggest annual fundraising event in aid of Special Olympics Ireland and as such is of huge importance to us. A number of weeks ago we put out a call to the people of Galway to help us on the day by giving up some time to help us collect. We received a fantastic response to this call and for this I would like to express the gratitude of everyone associated with Special Olympics Ireland to each and every person who helped out on the day. 2011 marks European Year of Volunteering and it is fantastic to see that the spirit of volunteering is alive and well in Ireland today. A fundraising-drive such as our annual collection day simply could not happen without the support of volunteers. When speaking of the contribution of volunteers I think Mother Teresa put it best when she said: 'Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they are priceless'. I would also like to express my gratitude to the people of Galway for their generosity on the day. We are so grateful to you for this support. All the money raised through collection day helps to ensure Special Olympics Ireland continues to develop and grow its programme of sports training and competition for people with an intellectual disability throughout the island of Ireland. This year is particularly significant for us as 126 athletes from Ireland will travel to Athens in June to compete at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. This is a huge achievement for each of these athletes and we know that they will do us all proud on this prestigious sporting stage. If any of your readers would like to send a message of support to Team Ireland they can do so by visiting www.facebook.com/ specialolympicsireland. Once again a huge word of thanks to all your readers who supported our Collection Day, it is greatly appreciated. Yours sincerely, Matt English Chief Executive Special Olympics Ireland 4th Floor, Park House North Circular Road Dublin 7[/private]