Networking at the NEC

Drowned in coursework I thought I would take some time out and tell you about the networking highlight of the pharmaceutical year. The Pharmacy show at the NEC was even more packed than previous years and it was great to meet so many new people and see new businesses exhibiting.

I made it my mission to find the quirkiest stands this year and the show didn't disappoint. Firstly, Mohdoh is a "therapeutic dough infused with essential oils". Developed by a dad who didn't want to give his kids unnecessary medicines I was intrigued by this range of different coloured dough. The sleep dough for instance smells of lavender among other smells and has definitely been helping me sleep the past week.

I think it's really interesting that such a stand was there and I didn't really expect to see such an enterprise. Perhaps patients can be encouraged to use alternative medicine first before traditional medicine?

Another stand which I thought was quite quirky was one with unflavoured toothpaste. Seeing as I normally associate minty freshness with toothpaste, the concept seemed a bit different. I have tried it though and it gets those gnashers gleaming.

It was also great to see my friends at Pharmacist Support who I met last year at the show. A relatively small charity they definitely deserve more support for their brilliant work. Shame I missed the brilliant caricaturist who was there again this year though.

Finally, I must mention the drinks reception at the end of the day. Anyone who says pharmacists and pharmacy in general isn't fun should definitely crash this next year. It was great to meet a few regular tweeters who occasionally read this blog there also.

There we go: this year I learnt to expect the unexpected, challenge the norm, be a bit different and that pharmacists know how to party harder than those medics.

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