Pre-registration Graduate of the Year

Winner: Sharon Lindsay
Boots, St Enoch Square, Glasgow

Throughout her pre-registration year, Sharon Lindsay has repeatedly gone above and beyond the call of duty. When a patient required rare vaccines and couldn’t obtain them, she arranged a special order from France. When the cause of a patient’s facial allergy couldn’t be determined, she investigated all the creams he applied to find the common ingredient. And when a patient fell ill, she administered first aid in the store. Sharon’s skills as a pharmacist have already borne fruit, having made at least two interventions that prevented possible serious harm to patients, showing her exceptional talent
and drive.

What the judges said: “Sharon’s relentless dedication to her profession is inspiring. I believe she may well be a trail-blazer for the future.”

New Pharmacist of the Year

Winner: Ravi Vaitha
Kamsons Pharmacy, Crawley, West Sussex

Ravi Vaitha held his team together through a major renovation of Crawley’s Kamsons Pharmacy, and has made full use of extra space and three new consultation rooms to offer a comprehensive range of enhanced services. Kamsons Pharmacy’s NHS smoking cessation service is growing by 10 to 15 clients a month and its dispensing volume by 15 per cent year on year. Ravi has also grown the supervised methadone and buprenorphine services to 40 patients a day; he has been chosen by the local PCT to become a pharmacist with special interest in substance misuse and commissioned as a supplementary prescriber for methadone.

What the judges said: “Gets the nod for the breadth of service introduced.”

Pharmacy Assistant of the Year

Winner: Hazel McConnell
Boots, Omagh, County Tyrone

Described as “a shining example” to all colleagues, Hazel McConnell is a pharmacy assistant with a difference. Now a friend to many of her customers, Hazel is her patients’ favourite staff member, receiving a record number of compliments in customer surveys. She gives them first class care, bringing pharmacists in to give advice where needed, and telling them what help is available to them. And she has embraced pharmacy services, being first port of call for promoting them in store and identifying those who would benefit from an MUR.

What the judges said: “Hazel is your ideal staff member. Twenty-six years’ experience and still looking for the next challenge or opportunity to make a difference. Simply the best!”

Pharmacy Technician of the Year

Winner: Sally Clarke
The Co-operative Pharmacy, Aspley, Nottinghamshire

One of the first things Sally Clarke noticed when she started working at The Co-operative Pharmacy’s Aspley branch was how few dosette boxes were being prepared. At her previous pharmacy, Sally had noted how valuable these were to vulnerable patients and took on the task of expanding this service in Aspley. Now, her pharmacy offers the service to more than 60 patients, who have welcomed the change and now fully comply with their medication. The introduction of this scheme played a part in increasing the number of prescriptions her pharmacy processes by 8 per cent.

What the judges said: “What impressed me most about Sally’s entry was her ability to see the bigger picture with her customers. Vulnerable customers are clearly reaping the benefits.”

MUR Champion of the Year

Winner: Samiah Tambra
Midcounties Co-operative Pharmacy, Pennfields, Wolverhampton

Having delivered 400 MURs in both 2008-09 and 2009-10, Samiah Tambra set her sights on other ways of raising the profile of the service. She has used local events to emphasise MURs’ value to fellow pharmacists and the public, and the highlight of her year was standing up in front of over 100 colleagues at the British Pharmacy Conference to deliver her MUR presentation. Even with all this exposure, Samiah has never overlooked her branch and continues to effectively manage her team while taking on new challenges.

What the judges said: “Samiah has not only delivered excellent MURs for her patients, making a real difference to people’s lives, she has also ensured that she works closely with her GPs in order to maximise benefit for the NHS.”

Pharmacy Manager of the Year

Winner: Bhavesh Patel
Pharma Healthcare, Canvey Island, Essex

A campaign launched by Bhavesh Patel to stave off the threat of closure raised the number of monthly prescriptions at Canvey Island’s Pharma Healthcare pharmacy by 3,000. Pharma Healthcare’s managing director credits Bhavesh with saving the pharmacy with his determination to keep each patient happy. Bhavesh also works closely with Macmillan nurses to facilitate timely access to palliative care medication. This includes developing a ‘wish list’ with nurses, and keeping a range of palliative care medicines in stock to make sure patients have rapid access to them. His pharmacy is committed to delivering prescriptions for palliative care medicines within two hours of receiving the prescriptions.

What the judges said: “He has won respect from the community by sustained service provision coupled with an empathetic approach.”

Clinical Service of the Year

Winner: Isle of Wight PCT

Integrated blood screening and vaccination service

Despite the PCT’s best efforts, only one vaccination course for hepatitis B was successfully completed in 2008. So in February last year the community pharmacy lead stepped in. Working with the island’s drug and alcohol service, a referral and treatment pathway was developed for patients collecting methadone. Fifteen pharmacists trained to deliver the service and delivered 77 vaccination courses in three months. Not a single piece of negative feedback was received and 14 people with hepatitis were identified and referred for treatment. On the back of the service, pharmacists extended their role to include HIV and syphilis testing.

What the judges said: “An excellent example of an innovative clinical service that provides a model for the development of other services to meet local needs.”

Retailer of the Year

Winner Rowlands Pharmacy

Last year Rowlands decided to tackle declining front- of-shop sales in style. It gave up competing with supermarkets, instead coming up with a simple slogan, ‘Caring for you and your family’, and a new shop design featuring zoned areas offering health choices. Holistic healthcare was the focus, and staff were trained to deliver clinical services and sent on patient engagement workshops. Thirty-two new concept pharmacies were rolled out and Rowlands saw a 10 per cent reduction in stock holding, a doubling of MURs and a 3 per cent rise in prescriptions.

What the judges said: “An all-encompassing performance involving fundamental re-engineering of the strategic direction and offer of the company. The extra clarity will undoubtedly benefit patients.”

Business Development of the Year

Winner Britannia Pharmacy
Ilford, Essex

Polyclinic LPS contract
Beating a host of multiples to the contract for London’s first polyclinic pharmacy was a great achievement, but for Britannia Pharmacy the work had only just begun. Required by the PCT to provide all enhanced and advanced services from day one, the team knew it needed to excel. And through drive, passion and outstanding customer service, Britannia Pharmacy has succeeded. The pharmacy has become the focal point of the polyclinic, and is commissioned to look after 50,000 patients. Open 365 days a year from 8am to 8pm, services range from minor ailments and smoking cessation to supervised consumption and flu vaccination.

What the judges said: “Their ambition is a shining example of a forward-thinking and highly motivated pharmacy business.”

Pharmacist Prescriber of the Year

Winner Colin Dougall
Lloydspharmacy, Drumchapel, Glasgow

If the future of pharmacy is through greater partnership with GPs, Colin Dougall is a pioneer. Working in conjunction with local GP practices, Colin has launched a hypertension clinic in his pharmacy’s treatment room, taking on responsibility for monitoring and blood samples. Colin has helped more than 100 patients to date, adjusting their medication according to guidelines and initiating a statin where required. In addition to his hypertension clinic, Colin also runs a referrals-based varenicline service, and has even taken supplementary prescribing out of the pharmacy, operating a benzodiazepine dose reduction clinic in his local health centre.

What the judges said: “An inspiring role model for the future of pharmacy.”

Pharmacy Innovation of the Year

Winner Doncaster LPC
Local quality and outcomes framework (QOF)

The Doncaster local quality and outcomes framework (QoF) is the result of a solid relationship between the LPC and PCT. Based on the national general practice QoF, the Doncaster scheme has improved the quality of pharmacy services and patient satisfaction and loyalty in the area. Because of this it has gained the support of local pharmacists, despite requiring hard work in collecting evidence, and in its second year now has almost 100 per cent participation.

What the judges said: “Shows how careful planning and excellent partnership working can transform a potentially bureaucratic national standard-setting and monitoring tool into a real driver for improving practice and the quality of services.”

Business Leader of the Year

Winner Kenny Black
Managing director, Rowlands Pharmacy

Described by his staff as “less than shy and retiring”, Kenny Black is no shrinking violet when it comes to leadership. After a complete review of Rowlands Pharmacy, he saw the multiple needed to take an innovative approach to survive in the tough economic climate caused by the recession. The results speak for themselves. The multiple has launched 32 concept stores across the country, designed to help empower patients to make health choices. Rowlands has invested heavily in staff training at all levels of the business, with more than 900 staff attending training programmes. And most impressive of all, under Kenny’s leadership Rowlands has navigated the recession without any staff cuts.

What the judges said: “A true inspirational leader.”
“Improving practice and the quality of services.”

Community Pharmacist of the Year

Winner Taseen Iqbal
Modi Pharmacy, Dudley, West Midlands

When Taseen Iqbal arrived at Dudley’s Modi Pharmacy, it offered just essential services. Now, thanks to Taseen’s determination to tackle local health inequalities, it offers MURs and a wide range of enhanced services, from language-specific smoking cessation to care of the elderly in care homes. An alcohol awareness service is among those on the horizon, and prescription volume has seen a 15 per cent leap since Taseen’s arrival. “Community pharmacy is about the community” is Taseen’s motto; he has organised local events such as a blood donation session at a mosque, mentors at youth groups and raised awareness of health issues through local media. No wonder his customers describe Modi Pharmacy as being five-star standard.

What the judges said: “Taseen has provided a shining example of community-focused pharmaceutical excellence.”

Pharmacy Team of the Year

Winner Fishers Chemist
South Norwood, London

When a 100-hour pharmacy opened just down the road from Fishers Chemist, the team didn’t panic because the service at this independent pharmacy is second to none. The clinical service offering is vast, with everything from blood sugar testing to chlamydia testing, as well as smoking cessation, warfarin testing and weight management funded by the local PCT. A team approach is the key to success, with all staff encouraged to keep training and even delivery drivers trained to deliver blood sugar tests and to pierce ears. Customer service is always of the highest quality and the team’s work has even won an Investors in People award.

What the judges said: “They have shown that through a team approach pharmacy can move successfully into new services.”