Mark Stuart

A version of this article published in the Pharmaceutical Journal, UK, 2002

The biggest and most successful Commonwealth Games ever, was recently staged in Manchester. Mark Stuart, superintendent pharmacist of the Athlete’s Village Pharmacy reviews the pharmacy operations that served 5000 athletes and hundreds of officials for 25 days.

The Athletes’ village pharmacy was the sole information point in the Village to assist athletes with drug information. One of the most important roles of the pharmacy was to provide advice relating to substances prohibited in sport and the restrictions regarding the use of some drugs. Many athletes concerned about their medication, particularly prior to competing, accessed this confidential service.

Mark Stuart
Published in the Pharmaceutical Journal, UK, 2002

With only days until the XVII Commonwealth Games, the largest sporting event ever to be held in the UK, and highlight of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, excitement is mounting as organisers are nearing the conclusion of many years of preparation. Around 5000 athletes from 72 countries will converge on Manchester to compete from the 25th of July to the 4th of August. Mark Stuart, superintendent pharmacist of the Athletes’ Village Medical Centre Pharmacy, gives an insight into the pharmacy preparations.

Over the last year and a half, a dedicated pharmacy-working group consisting of pharmacist representatives from NHS trusts in the Greater Manchester area, as well as a number of pharmacists involved in sports medicine, has been meeting monthly.
The pharmacy-working group has constructed policies, procedures, and developed the services that the pharmacy will provide. They have anticipated the many unique issues that an event of this type will present.