I was elected to Somerset County Council in May 2022, which became Somerset Council in April 2023. As a Councillor I deal with casework across my Division and liaise with 12 Parish Councils. I was Associate Lead Member for Transport & Digital in 2022/23. And Chair of Audit Committee from May 2023 onwards.

I am very pleased to have been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of HubRx. Our mission is to help transform independent community pharmacy through the use of automation and other supportive technology. I am looking forward to an open and honest conversation with independent colleagues about how you will be able to change the way you work.

Independent Community Pharmacy in rural West Dorset. Established 1790. Recently refitted to provide enhanced private consultation facilities. Accredited as the first independent Healthy Living Pharmacy in Dorset by NHS Dorset. Rated 'Good' by the General Pharmaceutical Council, Jan 2015.Provider of services on behalf of NHS Dorset: dispensing, repeat dispensing, disposal of waste medicines, self care advice, NHS Health Checks, NHS Smokestop, NHS Chlamydia Testing &… Show more Independent Community Pharmacy in rural West Dorset. Established 1790. Recently refitted to provide enhanced private consultation facilities. Accredited as the first independent Healthy Living Pharmacy in Dorset by NHS Dorset. Rated 'Good' by the General Pharmaceutical Council, Jan 2015.Provider of services on behalf of NHS Dorset: dispensing, repeat dispensing, disposal of waste medicines, self care advice, NHS Health Checks, NHS Smokestop, NHS Chlamydia Testing & Treatment, NHS Supervised Consumption, NHS New Medicines Service and NHS Medicines Use Reviews. Provider of free prescription collection and delivery service to Barton House & Tunnel Road Surgeries. Free filling of compliance aids. Provider of private services: travel advice including private dispensing of antimalarials at very competitive rates, coming soon - private flu vaccination service. Supporter of a number of community groups: Better Balance Group, Beaminster WI, Royal British Legion - Beaminster Branch, Beaminster Christmas Committee, National Childbirth Trust - West Dorset Branch, Buckham Fair, St Mary's Church. Member of National Pharmacy Association. Member Federation of Small Business.Member Beaminster Chamber of Trade.As Superintendent Pharmacist, responsibilities include: quality control and continuous quality improvement for pharmacy services; audit; staff training and development; professional governance; public speaking at community groups; stakeholder management - local surgeries, community nursing teams, care organisations. As Company Director, responsibilities include: business development, including project management for recent pharmacy refit; financial governance, including cash-flow planning; marketing; purchasing; strategic planning. Show less

I have been elected as the District Councillor for Hamdon Ward (Stoke & Norton Sub Hamdon) to South Somerset District Council.My interests are climate change, protecting public services and regenerating our towns.For official business please contact: Mike.hewitson@southsomerset.gov.uk

PSNC represents the interests of Community Pharmacy Contractors in England to the NHS, and helps to shape the development of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, currently worth £2.592bn per annum.I was a key liaison between the National Pharmacy Association and Pharmacy Voice, helping to secure a high degree of agreement in response to NHS funding cuts and emerging areas of policy such as Hub & Spoke dispensing.I was assigned to the Service Development Subcommittee… Show more PSNC represents the interests of Community Pharmacy Contractors in England to the NHS, and helps to shape the development of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, currently worth £2.592bn per annum.I was a key liaison between the National Pharmacy Association and Pharmacy Voice, helping to secure a high degree of agreement in response to NHS funding cuts and emerging areas of policy such as Hub & Spoke dispensing.I was assigned to the Service Development Subcommittee which helped to introduce the national flu vaccination service.Nominated by the National Pharmacy Association as a representative of independent community pharmacy owners. Show less

The National Pharmacy Association was the trade association for independent community pharmacy owners. It provides support services including professional advice, training and Indemnity Insurance for its 6,500 member pharmacies. As a Board member I was responsible for strategic direction of the organisation, and for representing the needs and aspirations of member organisations of all sizes to the Board. I held various leadership roles within the organisation including: Vice Chairman;… Show more The National Pharmacy Association was the trade association for independent community pharmacy owners. It provides support services including professional advice, training and Indemnity Insurance for its 6,500 member pharmacies. As a Board member I was responsible for strategic direction of the organisation, and for representing the needs and aspirations of member organisations of all sizes to the Board. I held various leadership roles within the organisation including: Vice Chairman; Chair of Policy & Practice and Membership Committees. I was elected to represent the Association on The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiation Committee and Pharmacy Voice Board. In January 2016 the Association launched the ‘Support your local pharmacy’ campaign which resulted in the largest petition in UK healthcare history (2.2m signatures), unprecedented media coverage and 3 parliamentary debates. I helped to lead the strategic direction for this campaign and was involved in several Ministerial meetings and at 10 Downing Street.I Chaired an evidence based policy review into ‘Hub & Spoke’ dispensing which resulted in Government abandoning a legislative reform programme. I was also involved in the NPA’s judicial review of NHS funding cuts which resulted in a £38m saving for NPA members, and a change to the law to ensure that the Secretary if State for Health has to give due regard to reduce health inequalities.I anchored several member webinars, some with over 1,000 attendees.My key skills are analytics, strategy and communication. Show less

Working with the Yeovil Lib Dem team to deliver winning campaigns for County Council and General Election 2017.

Pharmacy Voice represents the interests of pharmacy owners in England. The Professional Practice Group is the leading authority on community pharmacy practice in the UK. It is comprised of representatives from the National Pharmacy Association, Company Chemists Association, and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies. The work of the PPG encompasses professional regulation, law & ethics and professional leadership. PPG interacts with a number of key stakeholders… Show more Pharmacy Voice represents the interests of pharmacy owners in England. The Professional Practice Group is the leading authority on community pharmacy practice in the UK. It is comprised of representatives from the National Pharmacy Association, Company Chemists Association, and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies. The work of the PPG encompasses professional regulation, law & ethics and professional leadership. PPG interacts with a number of key stakeholders including the General Pharmaceutical Council, Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the NHS. Show less

Formulation and development of strategic policy on behalf of 13,500 community pharmacies throughout the UK. Strategic communications on behalf of members to ensure adequate representation of common positions. Formulation of responses to official consultations. Interviews with a number of national media channels: BBC, Guardian, Independent on Sunday, Observer, British Medical Journal, pharmacy trade press. Strategic stakeholder management: DH, GPhC, NPSA, RPS, CPS, CPW, PSNC… Show more Formulation and development of strategic policy on behalf of 13,500 community pharmacies throughout the UK. Strategic communications on behalf of members to ensure adequate representation of common positions. Formulation of responses to official consultations. Interviews with a number of national media channels: BBC, Guardian, Independent on Sunday, Observer, British Medical Journal, pharmacy trade press. Strategic stakeholder management: DH, GPhC, NPSA, RPS, CPS, CPW, PSNC, trade press, PGEU, Pharmacy Voice, CCA, AIMp, PAGB, ABPI, NHS Future Forum, devolved Governments, MHRA, etc. Show less

In response to a formal tender process by Dorset Community Health Services (community foundation trust), for the provision of pharmacy services to prisons, mental health units and community hospitals; I brought together 15 independent Pharmacy Contractors to bid collectively as a social enterprise. The bid contained a number of unique features including unparalleled Management Information, genuine cost-pricing utilising the whole of the pharmaceutical market, a desire to reduce long… Show more In response to a formal tender process by Dorset Community Health Services (community foundation trust), for the provision of pharmacy services to prisons, mental health units and community hospitals; I brought together 15 independent Pharmacy Contractors to bid collectively as a social enterprise. The bid contained a number of unique features including unparalleled Management Information, genuine cost-pricing utilising the whole of the pharmaceutical market, a desire to reduce long term burden of costs for the commissioner by making use of the expertise of the pharmacist in medicine compliance and concordance. Bid also included full costing, and a detailed project implementation plan.The commissioner praised the high quality of our bid documents, and the professionalism of the tender. Show less

Member of Dorset Local Pharmaceutical Committee. Responsibilities included scrutiny of Service Level Agreements, Service Specifications, economic viability of financial modelling for enhanced services. Financial governance of LPC. Strategic planning of LPC activities. Specific responsibility for communications with Community Pharmacy Contractors and professional stakeholders, including production of LPC newsletters. Analysis and use of NHS data to help Contractors to improve… Show more Member of Dorset Local Pharmaceutical Committee. Responsibilities included scrutiny of Service Level Agreements, Service Specifications, economic viability of financial modelling for enhanced services. Financial governance of LPC. Strategic planning of LPC activities. Specific responsibility for communications with Community Pharmacy Contractors and professional stakeholders, including production of LPC newsletters. Analysis and use of NHS data to help Contractors to improve their service offering. Stakeholder management as part of group: PCT, PSNC, other LPCs, LMC, Public Health, Drug and Alcohol Action Team. Show less

Regular columnist for Chemist & Druggist magazine, the leading trade publication for pharmacy matters. Starting in October 2008 as 'Open Mike', wrote a weekly column about the challenges of being an independent Pharmacy Contractor. Positive feedback from readers and the magazine. Gradually evolved into a less frequent but longer contribution, examining the bigger strategic issues within community pharmacy.

Sessional Practice Support Pharmacist to ~8,500 list size GP practice in Gloucester. Prescribing audits on a range of clinical areas to ensure appropriate and safe use of medicines. Clinical economics, responsible for mass prescribing changes, savings >£50k. Liaison with GPs and PCT for prescribing issues. Helped GPs achieve and maintain a balanced budget.Review and analysis of Prescribing Analysis and CosT (PACT) data, to inform practice prescribing… Show more Sessional Practice Support Pharmacist to ~8,500 list size GP practice in Gloucester. Prescribing audits on a range of clinical areas to ensure appropriate and safe use of medicines. Clinical economics, responsible for mass prescribing changes, savings >£50k. Liaison with GPs and PCT for prescribing issues. Helped GPs achieve and maintain a balanced budget.Review and analysis of Prescribing Analysis and CosT (PACT) data, to inform practice prescribing policies.Review and action MURs conducted by pharmacists. Show less

Responsible for safe and effective running of the pharmacy.Clinical relationships with patients and prescribers.

Rotational pharmacist experiencing: dispensary, pharmacy manufacturing unit, medicines information and ward-based clinical pharmacy. On-call out of hours provision of products and services. Experience of technician-led dispensary and clinical screening by pharmacist.

South-West Hospitals Pre-registration Training Programme. Experience of hospital pharmacy: dispensary, pharmacy cytotoxic manufacturing facility, medicines information, ward based medicines services. Audit. Experience of competency based registration for Registration Examination.

MPharm degree. Final year research project: Use of diphenydramine as a non-prescription hypnotic in the UK.