Pharmacist saves woman having a near-fatal allergic reaction to bee sting in Northern Ireland

A community pharmacist in Co Down, Northern Ireland, has been celebrated as a local hero after treating a woman with adrenaline after a bee sting caused an anaphylactic reaction. Community Pharmacy NI is raising awareness of the value of community pharmacy teams as a key part of the local community.

Joan Johnston from Moira was stung on her scalp and noticed the signs of an allergic reaction – serious itching and redness which travelled to her neck and ears. Her GP advised her to go to her local pharmacy where pharmacist Stephen Joyce gave her antihistamines and an adrenaline injection while an ambulance was called. Her GP then arrived and gave her oxygen and an intravenous steroid.

Ms Johnston said the treatment she received was “nothing other than lifesaving”. She praised the quick response and professionalism of the pharmacy team and backed Ask Your Pharmacist Week last week in raising awareness of the clinical expertise and healthcare advice available in local pharmacies. Ask Your Pharmacist Week is the National Pharmacy Association’s annual public awareness campaign for community pharmacy across the UK. This year it focussed on the extensive skill set of the whole team working in community pharmacies and their value in supporting health services.

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