Big Tobacco has muscled in on the e-cigarette business and smoking cessation services have seen take-up fall, so is harm reduction better than no action at all, asks Terry Maguire

A train of pharmacists lined up to get into the training sessions for MURs for asthma and COPD, writes Terry Maguire, reflecting the enthusiasm for this style of working

Until the issue of time management is properly tackled, taking on new services will only ever be a struggle, writes Terry Maguire

When Northern Ireland first played host to Game of Thrones, pharmacist Boyd Rankin swapped his white coat for medieval weaponry and hasn't looked back, writes Terry Maguire

By stealth Northern Ireland has arrived at a way of using the existing pharmacy contract to move things forward without officially having a new contract, writes Terry Maguire. And he’s a happy man

You’d think a trip to Rome would offer some respite from work, but Terry Maguire soon discovers there’s no such thing as an off-duty pharmacist

The government’s proposed CPD regulations have stirred up a hornet’s nest in Northern Ireland. But, writes Terry Maguire, mandatory standards are vital to legitimise the pharmacist's role

All Terry Maguire is asking for is clear guidance on whether he should stock e-cigarettes. But there's a lot of sitting on the fence going on in Northern Ireland

A distinct feeling of déjà vu overcame Terry Maguire when he attended a meeting on funding, where he witnessed getting nowhere being spun as success

ICPs are replacing primary care partnerships in Northern Ireland, writes Terry Maguire. But it looks like the opportunity to include pharmacists may again be missed

For years we have been providing unpaid services that eat up our resources and capacity, says Terry Maguire. But if we stopped, just imagine how much more support we could give to patients

Following in the footstep of James Joyce on a one-day tour of Dublin, Terry Maguire stepped back in time at Sweny's Pharmacy and got nostalgic over a bar of soap

After his latest public health presentation ran smoothly, contractor Terry Maguire was taken aback to be accused of being politically incorrect

A challenged economy means change is afoot in community pharmacy in the Republic of Ireland, writes Terry Maguire, who popped 'down south' to discuss a continually evolving profession

We’re always calling for more pharmacy-commissioned services, but when the funding on offer discourages uptake, says Terry Maguire, we need to look beyond cost and at their true value

Dispelling myths around healthcare is never an easy job, writes Terry Maguire. Especially when the patient trusts the opinions they find in cyberspace more than those of professionals

As the pharmacist's role continues to change, many are having to adapt the way they do business, writes Terry Maguire. But are we sacrificing our professionalism for the business-centred culture?

The challenges for implementing healthy living pharmacies in Northern Ireland will be satisfying and accommodating everyone’s views and opinions, writes Terry Maguire

After losing his own father to smoking-related cancer, contractor Terry Maguire reiterates the importance of engaging with those hard-to-reach groups of smokers

A recent situation involving a monitored dosage system created more than a little confusion over a patient’s care, writes Terry Maguire, and I can’t help but think we would have been better off without it

A pharmacy face-off sees Terry Maguire holding his ground when an aggressive customer demands diazepam

It's Terry Maguire versus a herbalist in a radio debate on echinacea use in children

While celebrating the 50th anniversary of ibuprofen, contractor Terry Maguire couldn’t help but think that the potential success of pharmacy has stalled since the drug switched from POM to P 30 years ago

Prevention is always better than cure, writes Terry Maguire, but Northern Ireland’s focus on treating the sick has left us neglecting those who are well

Terry Maguire Having a dream about what is achievable in pharmacy is a great thing, but sometimes the reality of practical implementation can stall even the most worthy projects