As a busy mum of five, Corinne Thomas uses her own experiences along with her exceptional knowledge of infant food allergies and intolerances to effectively reassure and advise worried parents

When Corinne Thomas was looking to get back into work after her fifth maternity leave, she decided that working in a pharmacy would provide the challenges and rewards she was after. She wasn’t wrong, and impressed Celesio UK area manager Peter Walker so much with the quality of her work at LloydsPharmacy’s branch in Northwich, Cheshire, that he nominated her for the SMA Nutritionsponsored Infant Care Champion Award: a prize she went on to win.

Two years since starting at the store, Corinne has secured both her counter assistant and dispensing assistant qualifications, encouraged by her pharmacy manager. However, she has great strengths in baby care, partly because of her personal experience in dealing with one of her five children who has attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder and another who has special dietary requirements, skin conditions and gastrointestinal issues.

Peter states: “Through her own experiences and dedication, Corinne has outstanding knowledge of infant food allergy and intolerance… she can recognise the symptoms in very young children and babies and give excellent advice on how to eliminate products from their diet and what to replace them with. Corinne also offers excellent advice on how to treat the side effects of these problems, such as eczema and gastrointestinal disturbances. In branch, we frequently refer customers to Corinne as her knowledge is far superior on this subject. She talks to customers and worried parents confidently with an obvious passion for the topic.”

From Corinne’s point of view, she says: “It’s been brilliant to be able to use the information I have learnt caring for my own children to help mothers who are worried about their children. The understanding and empathy I am able to give is a real help in calming them down and helping them… I am able to signpost to local health professionals who can offer further support and advice.”

Corinne cites the example of a young mum who came to the counter with her daughter who was experiencing dry skin. Despite trying the various emollients the GP had prescribed, the condition didn’t seem to be getting any better, so Corinne suggested a particular product that had helped her son and also raised the possibility that the eczema was a result of food allergies. Two weeks later, the woman returned, delighted with the advice she had been given and reporting a marked improvement in her daughter’s symptoms.

Awards judge and last year’s Spotlight Award winner Harry Mahmood commended Corinne for using personal experience alongside training knowledge to deliver “the best care possible”, while 2016 Spotlight Award winner Myra Battle highlighted her “understanding, calming and sharing” nature.

As a newly-qualified dispensing assistant, Corinne is working to build some experience in that area, but says she is open to moving onto a pharmacy technician course or completing health champion training. However, it is clear that her heart lies in baby care. She says that part of the reason she enjoyed her trip to the Recognition of Excellence Awards – her first trip to London – was because she got to meet representatives from manufacturers of products in this field. When asked if she had picked their brains, she admits that it wasn’t a one-way conversation, with the reps asking her about her experiences as well.

Corinne says that a lot of fuss has been made of her since her return to work after the ceremony. Her award is on display, and photos of her with guest speaker and England rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson adorn the pharmacy’s wall and computer screensaver. She is delighted with her success, saying: “It is lovely to be rewarded for the customer service that my team and I provide every day.”