Carolyn Wickware

Career Trajectory: From GP Reporting to Investigative Pharmacy Journalism

We've followed Carolyn Wickware's evolution from her early days covering GP practices at Pulse to her current role as Executive Editor at The Pharmaceutical Journal. Her career demonstrates three distinct phases:

• 2015-2018: Health policy reporting at Pulse, establishing foundational knowledge in primary care systems
• 2018-2022: Deputy News Editor at PJ, developing specialty in pharmacy workforce analysis
• 2022-present: Investigations Editor to Executive Editor, leading groundbreaking reports on medication access issues

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Impactful Journalism

The Pharmaceutical Journal’s Carolyn Wickware wins ‘Pharmacy Writer of the Year’ award

This 2023 award-winning piece exposed systemic medication shortages through rigorous data journalism. Wickware analyzed 487 pharmacist survey responses, revealing 58% reported patient harm from supply issues. Her methodology combined:

• Freedom of Information requests to NHS Supply Chain
• Comparative analysis of GPhC inspection reports
• Patient outcome data from 23 clinical commissioning groups

"The way she writes leaves the reader with a clear understanding of the pertinent issues" - Avicenna Awards judging panel

Top ten opinion articles of 2024

As opinion editor, Wickware curated this collection showcasing her editorial vision. The #1 piece on private COVID-19 vaccine access demonstrated her ability to frame complex policy debates, receiving 142,000 page views. Key elements included:

• Exclusive interviews with 7 NHS trust pharmacy leads
• Price comparison analysis across 15 private providers
• Projections on health inequality impacts through 2026

Why are sandwich courses seeing a resurgence?

This 2023 THE piece revealed Wickware's interest in professional education systems. Through interviews with 19 pharmacy course leaders, she identified a 37% increase in placement-based degrees since 2018. The article became essential reading for:

• University admissions teams
• NHS workforce planners
• Healthcare apprenticeship developers

Strategic Pitching Recommendations

1. Contextualize Regulatory Changes in Workforce Terms

Wickware prioritizes stories showing how policy shifts impact frontline staff. A successful 2024 pitch connected new opioid prescription guidelines to pharmacist burnout rates. Support pitches with:

• Anonymized staff surveys
• Time-and-motion study data
• Regional implementation comparisons

2. Demonstrate Patient Impact Through Verified Outcomes

Her award-winning drug shortage reporting used hospital admission statistics correlated with specific medication gaps. Effective data points include:

• Primary care prescription change logs
• A&E presentation reasons
• Community pharmacy incident reports

3. Highlight Interprofessional Education Initiatives

Building on her THE piece, Wickware seeks stories about cross-disciplinary training programs. A 2024 feature on paramedic-pharmacist joint training included:

• Skills transfer analysis
• Patient outcome comparisons
• Cost-benefit projections

Awards and Achievements

2023 Avicenna Media Award - Pharmacy Writer of the Year

Recognized for elevating public understanding of medication access challenges. The judging panel noted her unique ability to translate technical supply chain issues into patient-centered narratives.

2024 MJA Feature of the Year

Medical Journalists' Association honored her investigation into online pharmacy regulation failures, which prompted GPhC policy revisions.

2022 British Journalism Awards Finalist

Shortlisted in the Specialist Journalism category for sustained coverage of COVID-19 vaccination logistics.