Pharmacy support staff hit the spotlight at this afternoon’s (29 June) Recognition of Excellence Awards as the pharmacy sector joined together to celebrate the best in community pharmacy

Haroon Mahmood, non-pharmacist branch manager at Well Pharmacy in Darlaston, Walsall, was a stand-out winner, sweeping up two awards, as well as the coveted Spotlight Award, which named him overall support staff member of the year. His commitment and caring nature towards patients impressed the judges and helped him top the results for the Customer Care Award and Outstanding Contribution Award.

Independent community pharmacies were well represented scooping eight of the 11 category wins, with Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol and Buxted Pharmacy in East Sussex taking home three and four accolades respectively. 

A full list of all the finalists and winners can be found below.

Hosted by Training Matters, the Awards took place at a gala lunch at the fabulous Dorchester Hotel to celebrate the best of medicines counter assistants, dispensing assistants and pharmacy technicians who go above and beyond their duty to support their customers, patients, pharmacies and communities.

TM editor Gemma Woodall, said: “This year’s entries were outstanding and it was an incredibly tough task for the judging panel to whittle down the entries for each of the 11 categories. The 26 finalists really are the best of the best and their dedication and commitment to their roles really is commendable.”

Our 26 finalists joined TM, the top brass of the pharmacy industry and special guest speaker Ian Thomas – “The Lion Man” – along with our charity partner Pancreatic Cancer Action and our sponsors Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, HRA Pharma, National Pharmacy Association, Numark, Pharmacy Show, Puressentiel, SMA Nutrition, TENA, Precision Marketing Group and Voltarol.

2017 Winners

Customer Care Award

Winner: Haroon Mahmood, Branch Manager, Well Pharmacy, Darlaston

Highly commended:

Jessy Gill, Dispensing Assistant, Charnwood Pharmacy, Loughborough

Jyoti Rajdev, Medicines Counter Assistant, Deeping St James Pharmacy, Lincolnshire

Counter Intelligence Award

Winner: Patricia Mann, Medicines Counter Assistant, Botolph Bridge Pharmacy, Peterborough

Highly commended:

Mary Warner, Medicines Counter Assistant, Ellacombe Pharmacy, Bristol

Maryam Thorne, Trainee Dispensing Assistant, Boots UK, Fleet 

Retail Skills Award

Winner: Claire Mackie, Retail Operations Coordinator, Right Medicine Pharmacy, Stirling

Highly commended:

June Cambridge-Rose, Healthy Living Advisor, Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol

Debbie Starr, Medicines Counter Assistant, City Pharmacy, Portsmouth

Innovation Award

Winner: Michelle Myers, Practice Manager & Skincare Specialist, Marton Pharmacy, Middlesbrough

Highly commended:

Wiveliscombe Pharmacy Team, Day Lewis, Wiveliscombe

Emma Moffitt, Pharmacy Assistant, Buxted Pharmacy, East Sussex

Healthy Living Advisor Award

Winner: Aimee Bishoprick, Healthy Living Advisor, Marton Pharmacy, Middlesbrough

Highly commended:

Samantha Kedwards, Medicines Counter Assistant, Buxted Pharmacy, East Sussex

June Cambridge-Rose, Healthy Living Advisor, Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol

Rising Star Award

Winner: Abi Wattleworth, Pharmacy Assistant, Well Pharmacy, Oldham

Highly commended:

Bronwyn Heatherwick, Medicines Counter Assistant, New Deer Pharmacy, Aberdeenshire

Kate Manning, Regional Support Manager, Day Lewis, Colchester

Infant Care Award

Winner: Debbie Starr, Medicines Counter Assistant, City Pharmacy, Portsmouth

Highly commended:

Aisha Aboo, Dispensing Assistant, HMS Pharmacy, Loughborough

Team Leader Award

Winner: Beata Mularska, Pharmacy Technician & Team Leader, Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol

Highly commended:

Anna Pearce, Pharmacy Manager, Avicenna Pharmacy, West Howe

Adele Robinson, Assistant Manager & Accuracy Checking Technician, The Clitheroe Pharmacy, Lancashire

Service Excellence Award

Winner: Ewa Kluk, Dispensing Assistant, Kellaway Pharmacy, Bristol

Highly commended:

Elaine Way, Pharmacy Technician, Avicenna Pharmacy, West Howe

Sandra Jennings, Dispensing Assistant & Trainee Pharmacy Technician, The Riverside Pharmacy, Sleaford

Outstanding Contribution Award

Winner: Haroon Mahmood, Branch Manager, Well Pharmacy, Darlaston

Highly commended:

Adele Robinson, Assistant Manager & Accuracy Checking Technician, The Clitheroe Pharmacy, Lancashire

Claire Blake-Rowland, Medicines Counter Assistant, Buxted Pharmacy, East Sussex

Pharmacy Champion Award

Winner: Samantha Kedwards, Medicines Counter Assistant, Buxted Pharmacy, East Sussex

Highly commended:

Maria Buxton, Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician, Crayhill Pharmacy, Orpington

Spotlight Award

Winner: Haroon Mahmood, Branch Manager, Well Pharmacy, Darlaston