Isabel Finch was crowned Newcomer of the Year, with judges commending her for securing exclusive comments from pharmacy minister Steve Brine – highlighting his vision for greater use of automation in community pharmacy – and the revelation that newly appointed health secretary Matt Hancock wants a “move towards the French model” for pharmacies.

With less than a year's experience reporting on community pharmacy, Ms Finch was also praised for defending contractors’ reputations when she uncovered that the government’s crackdown on alleged fraud in pharmacy was based on just one example – over 10 years ago.

Commenting on her win, C+D editor James Waldron said: “Isabel has had an incredible first year at C+D and this award was well deserved.

“I was especially pleased to see her ‘French model’ exclusive highlighted by the Avicenna judges, as I have heard this story discussed by numerous sector leaders over the past three months – proof of its wide-ranging impact.”

The tenth Avicenna Media Awards – which annually search for the very best writers in the pharmacy trade press – was held at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London.