Julie Grigg

I qualified as a pharmacist over 30 years ago and have spent my entire career working in independent and small-chain community pharmacies in and around Sheffield, both as a locum and as a permanent employee. This has given me experience of many different ways of working, as well as a good understanding of the day-to-day realities and pressures faced by community pharmacy teams.

I currently work at Wicker Pharmacy, where I continue to enjoy the patient contact that first drew me into community pharmacy. I find delivering the Pharmacy First, Oral Contraception and Hypertension Case-Finding services particularly rewarding, as they provide real benefits for patients while showcasing the valuable clinical role of community pharmacy.

Having worked with a wide variety of pharmacies, each with different staffing levels, skill mixes and ways of working, I appreciate that implementing and delivering services is not always straightforward. Every pharmacy has its own challenges, and there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. Working closely with many GP practices has also shown me the wide variation in communication methods, referral pathways and ways of collaborating. While these differences can sometimes create challenges, they also highlight the opportunities for pharmacies and general practice to work more effectively together for the benefit of patients.

In my new role, I’m looking forward to supporting both community pharmacy teams and GP colleagues to make these services work as smoothly as possible. My aim is to build positive relationships, improve communication where I can, and help overcome the practical barriers that can make service delivery more difficult. Because I continue to work on the frontline in community pharmacy, I understand the realities of balancing patient care with the demands of a busy working day.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s anything I can help with. Whether you’re looking for support, have questions about services, or simply want to share ideas and experiences, I’m always happy to have a conversation. I’m looking forward to working with you to help make our services as effective and accessible as possible for the patients we all serve.