Saira Begum impressed the judges with her novel way of addressing the challenge of patient safety – by developing a bespoke patient safety tool

Patient safety is the priority for all pharmacies, but the vast majority simply work with the tools that are already provided. Not Saira Begum, nonpharmacist manager at Speaks Pharmacy in Bolton, Lancashire. Concerned that increased expectations from the General Pharmaceutical Council and the wider NHS for robust reporting and analysis of incidents were clashing with the growing pressure pharmacy is under, she set about looking for a solution. It was the outcome of this quest that led to her being crowned winner in the Innovation category, sponsored by Thornton & Ross.

Saira turned to CDsmart, and was told by the electronic Controlled Drugs register provider that the company was working on something along the same lines. They welcomed her input, so Saira went back to her team and put together a list of the common near misses that occurred and the biggest obstacles to reporting. This work fed into the Reportsmart software, which the Speaks Pharmacy team trialled so that they could make suggestions that CDsmart then used to improve the offering.

Saira says that the digital recording tool has revolutionised patient safety in her pharmacy. Not only is it easier for staff members to record relevant information, but the application also automatically identifi es likely causes of problems and advises on preventative measures, while highlighting important safety alerts. Training needs are simpler to spot too, which helps managers develop and motivate their teams, and it also provides clear evidence that risks are being addressed. Saira explains: “We continue to remain up to date with important information, regularly review risks and learn from any mistakes made both within our own pharmacy and in the wider Reportsmart community… This has resulted in a more cohesive and focused workforce.”

There was an added bonus, says Saira: “I wanted to show to my team that nonpharmacist managers could also make a huge impact on clinical aspects of pharmacy… We also have an obligation towards our patients… Most importantly, I wanted to demonstrate that a hardworking mother of two from a small independent in a working class community could go above and beyond the call of her day-to-day managerial duties.”

There is little doubt that Saira achieved her ambitions. Awards judge and principle associate of Pharmacy Complete Mike Holden commented: “Great focus, great innovation and great outcomes.” NPA chief pharmacist Leyla Hannbeck, who says that patient safety is a topic very close to her heart, lauded Saira for her “extremely worthwhile” work, particularly because the Reportsmart tool enables information to be shared with all staff working in a pharmacy and not just those with roles in the dispensary.

Saira says: “I am proud as a nonpharmacist to be able to contribute greatly to enhancing patient safety. I hope this will inspire others to embrace technology and reach out with ideas and make a real difference.” Her award – for which she was encouraged to apply by Taskeel Khan from CDsmart – reflects not just her efforts but also those of the sector as a whole, she says: “Pharmacy staff are unsung heroes and should be recognised for their contributions, as much of it goes unnoticed. We are being pushed further than ever, working under pressurised environments brought on by cuts and staff shortages, yet we continue to strive hard to deliver an exceptional service again and again.”

After 16 years in pharmacy, Saira most certainly isn’t done. She admits to having caught “the digital bug”, saying: “I want to get more involved in the development of systems that can make processes faster, more effi cient and save huge amounts of time. I have a few ideas that could do just that, so watch this space!”