Joyce Mulpeter is the Member Relationship Manager with the IPU. Joyce joined the IPU in Feb 2017, and her role primarily consists of travelling to pharmacies around the country, and meeting members.
Joyce Mulpeter is the Member Relationship Manager with the IPU. Joyce joined the IPU in Feb 2017, and her role primarily consists of travelling to pharmacies around the country, and meeting members.
I’m usually on the road by 7.30am, sometimes earlier, depending on which part of the country I’m targeting. I plan about a month in advance what areas I am targeting. For example, in May I intend to visit pharmacies in the Cork and Kerry areas. In the first quarter of 2023 I visited 153 pharmacies across 11 counties (Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Meath, Monaghan, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow). I call to pharmacies across all 26 counties, and I am happy to travel to any town to meet a member. My job is to serve our members, and to visit pharmacies to ensure you get the best from the IPU.
While we have some members who are vey aware of the wide range of supports available from the IPU, some of our members are less aware of the range of services we provide. I think meeting someone from the IPU in your own pharmacy, allows pharmacists and their teams to put a face to the IPU, and makes us more accessible to our members. Whether it’s a quick chat for a few minutes, or a longer discussion on a particular topic, I believe it’s time well spent. Members should see me as a resource available to them.
While I don’t have the detailed knowledge on the PCRS that the Contract team have, or have the same level of expertise on regulatory issues that my colleagues in the Professional Services team have, I know a little bit about everything, and most importantly, I can find out for you! I will be able to connect members in with the right person and ensure they get a response to their query.
My background is in sales, so I know people. I put a face to the IPU and develop and maintain the most important relationships we have – with our members. (delete However) I was one of the leads on the Safe Pharmacy initiative, and I believe it’s important that our members have as much information as possible on this really important programme. I also work closely with my colleagues across all departments within Butterfield House. My colleagues keep me abreast of any updates or changes as they occur. Equally, I feedback any issues or concerns raised by members. It is very important for the IPU team to hear this feedback so that they can get a sense of what is happening in pharmacies and identify areas of concern, or patterns emerging. For example, the Contract Department may identify an issue that they can take to the PCRS for a resolution. As I said, I know a little about everything, and I can answer many queries, but will always follow up on questions I get asked with my colleagues in the IPU.
Many of the questions I am asked are topical issues, which at present include issues around: drug shortages; owings; issues with High Tech deliveries on Saturdays; workforce issues; and the administrative burden on pharmacies. In addition to answering specific queries, my role also informs pharmacists at a local level what issues the IPU are working on, and I in turn help to build a picture of what is happening on the ground.
I am often asked about the suite of services we provide in the IPU, and why someone should become a member. The IPU provides its members with a full suite of supports, including:
I always try and tell members that the IPU is here to support you, and to use us as much as possible. If you have any questions on individual areas, we are always here to help, just pick up the phone, or drop us an email.
I invite members to contact me with any queries or issues they have on 086 1408964 or e-mail me joyce.mulpeter@ipu.ie.
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