What a difference a week can make...… 

On 11th March 2020, COVID-19 was named a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation.   On Thurs, 12th March,  An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced additional measures to protect Irish citizens by delaying the spread of COVID-19, which included social distancing measures, including the closure of creches, schools and universities. 

Where were you when you heard the Taoiseach's announcement?  My husband, three kids and I heard the announcement while we were in the car to meet my grandmother and four generations of her direct descendants to celebrate her 100th birthday with her.  Much has changed since her birth on 12th March 1920, and she continues to live an active, fulfilled life.  Her next big project is 'Great Grandma Iris's Garden Party' in June 2020, which will raise funds for local charities in Enniscorthy.  A key reason for Ireland's fast and decisive action is to give people like her (and her pensioner children) every chance to stay fit and healthy.  Each of us is a parent, a sibling, a child, a friend and a colleague.  We all care.  And what we do makes a difference.

If you work in pharmacy, completing our Coronavirus COVID-19 Certified Training today will be one of the best spent hours of your year. 

Read on for all the details on how to access this training for free. 

Feeling ill-equipped and unprepared is not a good feeling.  To ensure every person working in community pharmacy is equipped with the information required to protect patient safety, at 4FrontPharmacy, we have created a Digital Badge (4-Part Module) to ensure that you and your team are trained to 

• provide best practice information to patients,
• empower effective action to help minimise the spread of Coronavirus in our communities
• protect public health, (our own, our staff and our patients) through best practice advice and behaviour

These four lessons comprise

1. What Causes Infections?

2. Managing Infections

3. Coronavirus COVID-19

4. Protecting staff and patients from infection in community pharmacy 

In the words of Brene Brown, this global pandemic is a real case of 'getting sick together' or 'staying well together.'  Our choices affect everyone around us.  

At 4FrontPharmacy our choice is to make our online Coronavirus COVID-19 Certified Training Programme available to all pharmacy staff, FREE OF CHARGE, with IMMEDIATE effect.  All you need to access this training is to 'Sign Up' on www.4FrontPharmacy.ie and login from any device with a microphone and internet connection.

Speed is of the essence in responding to this pandemic and fast action has already been proven to be highly effective at reducing transmission and saving lives in China and other countries.  

Upon completion of these four lessons, you will be awarded a 'Digital Badge Certificate.'  You can print this award to reassure customers and colleagues that you have completed the training.  

As this is evolving global pandemic, you should continually refer to the links to National Guidance provided from the HSE, PSI, IPU, HPSC etc.  4Front's Coronavirus COVID-19 course is reviewed and updated in line with national developments.

Each course takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete.  The programme is for all staff working in Community Pharmacy, from pharmacists to front-of-shop staff. 

Commenting on the decision to make the course available without charge to the wider pharmacy community, co-founder of 4Front Pharmacy Online, David McLean, said “In the absence of an available vaccine, our best defence against the spread of infection is to educate all employees with accurate information about the disease, proven methods to prevent infection, and link this to the latest national advice. This is the right thing to do at the right time – for pharmacies, their staff and their customers.”

Co-Founder Rachel Dungan MPSI added: “While pharmacy staff are already highly competent and well-trained with regard to infections, the emergence of COVID-19 has generated unprecedented levels of queries and understandable concern among the general public – the need for accurate, comprehensive communication, therefore, is critical. Over the coming days, we will be looking at the feasibility of extending the course to other groups in the community".

Given the importance and impact of COVID-19  on our customers, communities and businesses, we have made the COVID-19 courses available to ALL users free of charge.  

1. Go to www.4FrontPharmacy.ie
2. Ask each member of staff to 'Sign Up' by entering their name, email address and pharmacy name 
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to 'create your new account'
4. Confirm your registration by opening the 'Account Confirmation' email you receive from 4Front
5. Enrol on the 'Coronavirus COVID-19 Certified Training'
6. Complete the training and receive your certificate
7. Check that ALL members of your pharmacy team have completed the training

Our goal is that EVERY member of the pharmacy team has received our Certified Coronavirus COVID-19 Training within the next 7 days.  We need your help in spreading the word. 

Please share this invitation (www.4FrontPharmacy.ie) with everyone you know who works in pharmacy.

Keep safe and well