TM recognised the very best in medicines counter assistants, dispensing assistants and pharmacy technicians at 2014's Recognition of Excellence Awards

After being inundated with entries to our inaugural Recognition of Excellence Awards, last month our finalists came together for a celebratory lunch at the fabulous Landmark Hotel in London to find out who had scooped the top prizes.

Sponsored by Tena, P&G PharmacyCare, Kellogg’s and CIG Healthcare Partnership, the Recognition of Excellence Awards set out to find pharmacy team members who went above and beyond their duty for the benefit of their customers, patients and pharmacy.

Training Matters editor Gemma O’Sullivan told guests: “Over the last few years alone, the roles and responsibilities of medicines counter assistants, dispensing assistants and pharmacy technicians have increased dramatically to better support the health of customers. And, given the fantastic work that is happening throughout community pharmacy, we thought it was about time to reward and recognise some of the outstanding examples.”

The best of the best

Our finalists fought off stiff competition to be in the top eight across the four categories. They had to answer five multiple choice questions, which tested their knowledge in their chosen category and tell us a little bit about themselves and how they demonstrate excellence in their area. It was then over to our judges, who had the unenviable task of choosing our finalists.

Our judging panel consisted of Deborah Evans, Balance; Liam Stapleton, Metaphor Development; Mimi Lau, Numark; Joanne Taylor, Vittoria Healthcare; Helen Darracott, PAGB; Noel Wicks, Right Medicine Pharmacy, and Leyla Hannbeck, National Pharmacy Association.

The judges were looking for people who truly excelled at their work and who demonstrated an exemplary standard of care and commitment. And our top eight didn’t disappoint.

Customer Care Award

The Customer Care Award was for someone who showed tremendous care and dedication to their role, and who went the extra mile to ensure customers got the medicines and advice that they needed. With over 14 years experience in pharmacy, Jacqueline Cheetham, A&L Porter New Deer Pharmacy in Aberdeenshire, won the top accolade in this category because of her superb approach to her role, showing compassion and care to customers. “I’d never won an award before,” said Jacqueline. “It seems that most of the awards are for pharmacists and there is not much for the staff. My pharmacist encouraged me to enter and then I forgot about it, so I got the shock of my life when I found out I was shortlisted and a real boost when I won.”

Marisa Riddiford from Kamsons Pharmacy in East Sussex came a close second, taking home the highly commended award. It was thanks to her background in nursing and ability to offer first aid to customers, as well as being able to use her skills to help her pharmacy serve the local community, that really made Marisa’s entry stand out. “It was very nice to be recognised and meet other people working in pharmacy,” said Marisa. “The day was lovely and really useful; it made me feel valued. My team thought it was very well deserved and it was a boost for everyone.”

Retail Skills Award

Joann Kray from Raymond Hall Pharmacy in Hull took home the top prize in the Retail Skills category. She showed that great retailing can also incorporate services and public health promotion, introducing smoking countdown displays, handing out scratch cards and using empty beer bottles to raise awareness of alcohol units as well as using planograms and livening up product displays.

Speaking about the day, Joann said: “I loved it. It was totally different and it was set out so well. I felt so welcome. My certificate is on the table near where the prescriptions are issued, and the pharmacist has put the picture of me winning the award up on the screen in the pharmacy. A lot of people are coming in and asking about it.”

Trained as a medicines counter assistant and working as operations and retail manager, our highly commended was won by Richard Stephenson from the Right Medicine Pharmacy Group in West Lothian. He raised the standards of a small group of pharmacies by improving their overall look, introducing new items to the public, making use of point of sale materials and promotional space and bringing a buzz back to the retail side of the pharmacies – all of which impressed our judges and increased sales by 30 per cent as a result.

“This is the first time I’ve been recognised externally,” said Richard. “It’s great; it’s very pleasing. Counter assistants and the sort of work I do is not an area that is really recognised within pharmacy, so to be able to be recognised is great.”

Counter Intelligence Award

Sharon Evans from Knights Pharmacy in Rubery scooped the top prize in this category, thanks to her desire to learn more and embrace new skills. Her passion for the job and willingness to undertake training impressed the judges, and as one judge said, it was her ability to put that training into practice and become a true self care champion that made her entry stand out.

“It’s brilliant to win,” said Sharon. “I was not expecting it at all. The award is on display in the pharmacy and two local papers are coming to take photographs.”

Christine Park from Lloyds Pharmacy, Ross Shire, received the highly commended award in this category. Christine’s 12 years of pharmacy experience and vast knowledge impressed the judges, as did her ability to think beyond a product request and consider the customer’s needs. “The day was lovely,” said Christine. “We felt very spoilt and the team are very proud of me.”

Pharmacy Technician of the Year Award

The judges were in agreement that Leanne Beverley from Monarch Pharmacy in Coventry was a worthy winner of this award, demonstrating all of the qualities that a pharmacy technician needs – energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and passion. As a pharmacy technician, ACT and supervisor, Leanne organises the day-to-day running of the pharmacy, has helped over 400 people to stop smoking since 2010, runs youth workshops to help deter young people from starting to smoke and has a 100 per cent accuracy checking record since her qualification in 2008. Her work goes beyond the pharmacy too, to organising food bank collections and throwing herself at many challenges, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. 

“The whole day was brilliant and put together really well and it was nice that it was an informal lunchtime event because I got to spend time chatting,” said Leanne.

Myra Gauntlett from Knights Pharmacy in Rubery received the highly commended in this category. As a pharmacy technician and ACT, Myra splits her time between the pharmacy and head office. CPD not only keeps her knowledge up-to-date but also motivates her to continue learning in a job that she loves.

Myra commented: “It was nice to be appreciated and get recognition for my work as so often it is just the pharmacist who gets noticed. I enjoyed getting to meet people doing a similar job to me and I found it really motivating. The whole team was very proud.”

Congratulations to all our finalists!