23 November 2007

Pharmacy Gathers for a Night Of Outstanding Achievement At the UniChem Pharmacy Awards 2007

Over 450 guests attended the UniChem Pharmacy Awards 2007 ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Friday 23 November.

Following a record number of entries received in 2007, the UniChem Pharmacy Awards once again recognised the achievements of some of the most visionary Independent Community Pharmacists in three categories; Promotion of Healthcare Services in the Community, Enhancing the Retail Experience and Working in Partnership as part of a Community Healthcare Team. The awards also recognised an Overall Winner who entered all three of the award categories and demonstrated an all round, consistently high standard and forward-thinking approach to pharmacy.

Three additional awards were also presented: Most Supportive Technician in Community Pharmacy, the UniChem Customer Forums Pharmacy Student Award (in association with the BPSA), and the Almus Patient Safety Award. Five supplier awards were also presented to selected pharmaceutical and healthcare suppliers, who were judged to have best supported and engaged with Community Pharmacy over the past 12 months.

The evening was hosted by Mike Smith of UniChem and former England Rugby Union International and ITV Sport presenter Martin Bayfield. Former Olympic athlete Tessa Sanderson CBE attended the evening as a special guest to represent Leonard Cheshire Disability, the UK's largest voluntary sector provider of support to disabled people, and UniChem’s chosen Charity of the Year for 2007.

In his opening speech to delegates, Terry Scicluna, Managing Director, UniChem, said: “Pharmacy is a pretty eventful place to be at the moment. There are some big challenges ahead, but there is also so much opportunity for the future. The government has clearly laid out its vision for pharmacy and now is the time for the profession to demonstrate that it is more than capable of rising to the challenges.

“The local independent pharmacist is at the heart of the community – trusted, approachable, well known and well respected. We must not forget this. Pharmacists must maximise this opportunity to benefit their business and benefit their community.”

Mike Smith commented: “I take great pleasure from these awards each year and I think we should feel very proud of each and every one of the short-listed finalists tonight. They are all winners in my book. The achievements of these individuals send a very strong message to the Department of Health that pharmacy can and will deliver.”

Also commenting on the awards, Jeremy Main, Chief Commercial Officer, UniChem, said: “It’s been quite a year for pharmacy and with all of the challenges that the profession has faced in the last 12 months, it is fantastic that we can come together and recognise outstanding achievements by independent community pharmacists. Over recent years, the UniChem Pharmacy Awards has become a key event in the industry calendar and we are proud to once again acknowledge the work of some of this country’s most forward-thinking pharmacists.”

Overall Winner:
Raj Patel, Mount Elgon Pharmacy, Wimbledon, London.
Raj Patel has demonstrated that with the right attitude and approach to pharmacy it is possible to make some significant achievements over a very short space of time. Raj opened his first independent pharmacy business just two years ago and in this time has turned it into a highly valued and respected provision for his local community. He has demonstrated an innovative approach to his business, constantly looking at new ideas in terms of improving both his retail and services offerings. Raj has also shown a real commitment to raising public awareness of the importance of good health and in particular, the value of the local Community Pharmacy.

Promotion of Healthcare Services within the Community:
Richard Evans, Tysul Pharmacy, Llandysul, Dyfed.
Richard Evans has demonstrated a commitment to the services role of the pharmacist by implementing and promoting a comprehensive healthy living service, supported by the RPSGB (Welsh Board) and the National Assembly of Wales. Utilising a variety of promotional tools as well as the skills of his pharmacy team, Richard has made a great success of these services by targeting and recruiting specific patients with relevant conditions, for services ranging from cholesterol / diabetes screening, weight, height and BMI screening, as well as smoking cessation programmes.

Working in Partnership as part of a Community Healthcare team:
John Goes, JP Goes Pharmacy, Coventry.
John Goes is a pharmacist who exemplifies the role of working in partnership as part of a community healthcare team. As a professional who is capable of delivering shared health outcomes together with the wider healthcare sector, he has an unwavering commitment to promoting pharmacy to PCTs and other healthcare providers. Furthermore, John openly and willingly encourages and shares best practice with other pharmacists, by encouraging them to integrate with other healthcare providers. In doing so, he has been at the core of some very successful multi-disciplinary health projects in the Coventry area.

Enhancing the Retail experience:
Harish and Dihmant Patel, Courtenay Chemist, St John’s Wood, London.
Harish and Dihmant Patel have shown that an independent pharmacy business can provide a superior retailing experience for its customers, by implementing an exceptionally high standard re-design and refit of their retail space. Coupled with a demonstration of and commitment to excellent customer service, Courtenay Chemist now offers a retailing experience that demonstrates both a highly professional and dedicated Community Pharmacy business, while at the same time providing a health and beauty offering to rival that of any leading high street retailer.

Most Supportive Technician in Community Pharmacy:
Samantha Ward, C.G. Murray & Son Ltd, Stourbridge, West Midlands.
Samantha was described by her Pharmacist as the key member of the pharmacy team, up-skilling to take on responsibility for many of the operational issues in the dispensary and in doing so, releasing the time for the Pharmacist to become actively involved in advanced and PCT enhanced services. In addition to this, Samantha recently coordinated a move to a new Health Centre pharmacy and has overseen the installation of a pharmacy robot. As her Pharmacist explains she has the passion, dedication and leadership skills that have driven the business forward through a seamless and successful transition.

Almus Patient Safety Award:
Dale McVeigh, Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist, Weldricks Pharmacy, Doncaster.
The winner of the Almus Patient Safety Award has created a new working environment that has encouraged a higher ‘safer work’ rate. Over 50% of workload results from a new repeat prescription service with no reported dispensing errors since the active use of the ACT in the final accuracy check. The service has also created an auditable, transparent system with a more complete PMR for the patient or GP consultation.
As a result, MURs and patient healthcare consultations have increased dramatically – in the two months prior to entering the award, the pharmacy conducted as many MURs as in the whole of the last financial year.

UniChem Customer Forum Pharmacy Student Award (in association with the BPSA):
Seema Mehta, Kings College London.
Seema Mehta is a 3rd year student at Kings College London and was selected as winner of this award for demonstrating a comprehensive insight into the impact that the Community Pharmacy Contract is now having on the pharmacy profession. Her competition entry showed an encouraging understanding of the extended services role for pharmacy, as well as a great enthusiasm for how the Community Pharmacy Contract has impacted not just pharmacy, but also the wider healthcare sector.

Supplier Awards:

Ethical Supplier of the Year
The ethical manufacturer that has best supported and engaged with community pharmacy
Winner: sanofi-aventis

Health & Beauty Supplier of the Year
The health & beauty manufacturer that has best supported and engaged with community pharmacy
Winner: Johnson & Johnson

Generics Supplier of the Year
The generics manufacturer that has best supported and engaged with community pharmacy
Winner: Actavis

Shortline Supplier of the Year
The Shortline manufacturer that has best supported and engaged with community pharmacy
Winner: Maxima

Surgical Supplier of the Year
The surgical manufacturer that has best supported and engaged with community pharmacy
Winner: Roche Diagnostics UK

For more information please contact:
Sanam Conway, Communications Executive: 0208 974 4045
Helena Bate, Communications Manager, 0208 974 4044