As the frontline of primary care when so many other services were closed or more difficult for patients to access, the COVID-19 pandemic placed immense pressure and demand on community pharmacy.

To highlight the fantastic contribution made by the sector through the pandemic, C+D has added two new categories to this year’s awards. The COVID HERO – Outstanding Team Award and COVID HERO – Outstanding Individual Award are dedicated to pharmacy teams and individuals who have gone the extra mile during the pandemic.

Are you a pharmacy professional who has gone beyond the call of duty to help your patients and your community during COVID-19? Or do you have a pharmacy colleague, in your workplace or another business, that you know has done something fantastic to keep things afloat during the pandemic? Then we want to hear from you.

You have until this Friday, October 30, to put yourself or someone else forward for the COVID HERO – Outstanding Individual Award. The category is open to all members of the pharmacy team, with applications done online, and free of charge.

There is also still time to enter your entire team into the COVID HERO – Outstanding Team Award, or recommend another team that you know has gone above and beyond in the face of the challenges presented by the pandemic.

“Shine a light” on exceptional contributions

C+D editor Beth Kennedy said: “In order to celebrate the incredible work of UK pharmacy teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, the C+D Awards has introduced two new categories for its 2020 ceremony.

"The COVID HERO categories shine a light on those who have gone above and beyond to deliver incredible patient care in a time when this has been needed like never before.”

Both categories will be open to a public vote once entries have closed – with C+D readers selecting the winner of each. The winners of the COVID HEROES categories will be announced at this year’s Awards ceremony on November 26.

The awards, this year held as a virtual ceremony for the first time – in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the need to prevent the spread of the virus and keep guests safe – will take place on the recently launched C+D Community at 7pm on Thursday, November 26.

The event, hosted by celebrated comedian Stephan Mangan, will recognise and celebrate the accomplishments of the finalists and winners across the 16 categories in this year’s awards.

The ceremony will be free to attend, with guests needing to register in advance to receive their link to access the event.