Rob Chapman on driving support beyond the Clinical Pharmacy Congress

Rob Chapman from the Clinical Pharmacy Congress discusses the importance of supporting pharmacy wellbeing and how CPC’s partnership with Pharmacist Support helps strengthen the profession.

The Clinical Pharmacy Congress (CPC) is an annual two-day event supporting the development, education and advancement of pharmacy professionals. Every year, colleagues from across clinical pharmacy in the UK come together to participate in keynotes, panels and skills training, hear the latest innovations from exhibitors and network with their peers.

Pharmacist Support has been working in partnership with the Clinical Pharmacy Congress for over five years. Through our mutually beneficial partnership, we work closely with the team at CPC throughout the year through various awareness raising initiatives. In recognition of our charitable work within the profession, the Clinical Pharmacy Congress supports us by providing free stand space within the exhibition area and speaker sessions, allowing us to speak to delegates about Pharmacist Support, our services and how our work champions the pharmacy profession. In addition, the congress supports our fundraising drive by making a generous donation to Pharmacist Support and encouraging event attendees to donate through the registration form and at our charity stand.

We caught up with Rob Chapman, Senior Portfolio Director at CloserStill Media, which runs the Clinical Pharmacy Congress, to chat about how our partnership creates greater impact across the profession.

Thank you for joining us, Rob. Let’s start off with what motivated Clinical Pharmacy Congress to support the work of Pharmacist Support.

“Our partnership with Pharmacist Support aligns closely with our goal of bringing the pharmacy community together and supporting the people who deliver care every day. We recognise that professional success and high-quality patient care depend on the wellbeing of the workforce. Pharmacist Support plays a unique and vital role in providing independent support services to pharmacists, pharmacy students and their families, making it a natural organisation for CPC to work alongside. By providing visibility, fundraising opportunities and a platform for important conversations around wellbeing, we can help strengthen support for the profession while contributing to the long-term sustainability of their services.”

Partnering with the Clinical Pharmacy Congress allows us to share our pharmacy mental health and wellbeing knowledge with event attendees.

Rob Chapman from the Clinical Pharmacy Congress discusses the importance of supporting pharmacy wellbeing and how CPC’s partnership with Pharmacist Support helps strengthen the profession.

How has the relationship been received within your organisation?

“The partnership has been very positively received across the CPC team. We are proud to work with an organisation that delivers such valuable support to pharmacy professionals. Team members recognise the importance of championing wellbeing within the sector and appreciate the impact Pharmacist Support’s services can have on individuals facing personal or professional challenges. The partnership is viewed as an important part of CPC’s contribution to the wider pharmacy community.”

What challenges do you think the profession is facing today and what impact do you see your support has had to combat these challenges?

“Pharmacy professionals continue to face significant pressures, including workforce shortages, increasing service demands, evolving clinical responsibilities and the ongoing challenge of maintaining personal wellbeing in a demanding healthcare environment. These pressures can have a considerable impact on mental health, resilience and job satisfaction.

While CPC cannot solve these challenges alone, our support of Pharmacist Support helps encourage open conversation, reduce stigma and connect people who are struggling with trusted support services.”

Why do you think charities like Pharmacist Support are vital for the profession?

“Having a dedicated charity focused on the needs of pharmacy professionals ensures that people facing personal, financial or wellbeing challenges have somewhere to turn. This support benefits individuals while helping strengthen the profession as a whole. Organisations across the sector all benefit from a healthy, resilient and supported profession, so it is important that we work together to help sustain services that make a real difference.

Whether through fundraising, awareness raising or providing a platform for engagement, every contribution helps extend the reach and impact of charities like Pharmacist Support. Supporting the wellbeing of the pharmacy workforce is a shared responsibility and collaboration across the sector ultimately strengthens the support available to pharmacy professionals, helping to create a more sustainable future for the profession.”

Want to get involved supporting the profession?

For more information about Pharmacist Support and partnership opportunities, please contact us.

Visit our partnerships page