Two thirds of Northern Ireland pharmacies have signed up for training to become Health+Pharmacies, based on England's healthy living pharmacy (HLP) model, which healthcare leaders hailed as an "outstanding response".

Contractors from 352 of Northern Ireland's 539 pharmacies accepted invitations sent out in June to become a Health+Pharmacy, the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) told C+D last week. Pharmacists will hear next month if they have been allocated one of 100 places in the first wave of training, which starts in October, the board said.

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	Matthew Dolan, public health pharmacist for the HSCB, which is running the scheme with the Public Health Agency and community pharmacy, said the board had been "inundated" with applications, demonstrating a hunger for the initiative.

"We had applications very quickly and we had a run at the end, a wide range [of applications] from chains down to more independents across the board. We do have a reach across the country." Mr Dolan told C+D. 

NPA project lead for the HLP pathfinder programme Deborah Evans branded the response "outstanding". "I am absolutely delighted that pharmacies have engaged so positively with the concept," she added.

Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland head of policy and development Vanessa Chambers said the response showed the "high level of enthusiasm and drive" of community pharmacy and its willingness to "embrace new concepts".

The government-backed model aims to address health inequalities and deprivation, focusing on smoking cessation, nutrition and exercise, alcohol and drug misuse and signposting to mental health services.

Pharmacists will not receive direct payment for adopting the Health+Pharmacy model, but it will give staff an opportunity to develop skills and expertise in public health. Pharmacies would also benefit from increased footfall, the HSCB said. Training will continue on a "rolling basis" so those pharmacies not allocated a place for October will have further opportunities in 2014, it said. 

The course for non-pharmacists is Well Being, provided by C+D; training for pharmacists will be provided by the Northern Ireland Department of Health. There is no training charge for the first pharmacist and first pharmacy assistant in each pharmacy.