Beyond the Medicine: Meet the Pharmacy Professionals Improving Mental Health Care Every Day
Isaac Otomewo, Lead Pharmacist for Physical Health
"When people think about pharmacists, they often think of dispensing medicines. While medicines remain an important part of my role, my work as Lead Pharmacist for Physical Health is focused on improving the physical health outcomes of people receiving mental health care and helping to reduce the significant health inequalities they experience.
People living with severe mental illness are at increased risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness. My role involves working across inpatient wards, community services, and corporate teams to ensure that physical health receives the same attention as mental health.
No two days are the same. I support clinicians with complex medication decisions, advise on physical health monitoring, review cardiovascular and metabolic risks, and help ensure high-risk medicines are used safely. Working closely with doctors, nurses, dietitians and other healthcare professionals allows me to bring medicines expertise into multidisciplinary care.
One important aspect of my role is leading and supporting flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes for both patients and staff. This includes developing guidance, supporting vaccinators, and ensuring safe vaccine governance. Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways of protecting vulnerable people from preventable illness.
I am also involved in antimicrobial stewardship, promoting the safe and appropriate use of antibiotics to help improve patient outcomes while reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
A major focus of my work is addressing antipsychotic-associated weight gain. Many medicines used to treat serious mental illness can increase the risk of weight gain, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I work closely with colleagues from nutrition, dietetics, medicine and nursing to identify practical ways to support healthier lifestyles, improve metabolic monitoring and introduce interventions earlier.
One example of this work is the Sussex-WISE (Weight Intervention and Screening in Serious Mental Illness) project, which aims to improve the identification and management of antipsychotic-induced weight gain. The project has helped raise awareness of this important issue and support earlier intervention for patients at risk of long-term health complications. I recently presented this work at the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress 2026.
Alongside this, I contribute to clinical guidelines, quality improvement projects, audits and regional pharmacy networks to help ensure care remains safe, evidence-based and continually improving.
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing the impact on patients and staff. Whether supporting vaccination programmes, reducing medication-related harm, or helping improve someone's physical health, pharmacy has a unique opportunity to make a real difference.
World Pharmacy Week and World Pharmacists Day are an opportunity to celebrate the diverse roles pharmacists play across healthcare. Behind every prescription is a team of pharmacy professionals working to improve patient safety, optimise treatment, and tackle health inequalities. I am proud to be part of a profession that combines clinical expertise, innovation and collaboration to improve the lives of the people we serve.
Photo description: Isaac Otomewo presenting the Sussex-WISE project at the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress 2026, highlighting opportunities to improve the identification and management of antipsychotic-associated weight gain in people living with severe mental illness.