Annie Mills identified a clear learning need in the area of drug and alcohol misuse among her pharmacy group and organised a training evening as a solution

Annie Mills’ career path hasn’t been the most conventional. She worked as a lollipop lady, betting shop manager, carer and party planner before taking up a position at Right Medicine Pharmacy (RMP) in Fallin, Stirling. Annie loves the constant challenge of being a dispensing assistant and says “every day is a school day”. Her constant quest for knowledge was one of the many reasons she received a Highly Commended in the Innovation Award, sponsored by Thornton & Ross.

Learning isn’t something that only happens at the pharmacy for Annie. After visiting Signpost Recovery, a local drug and alcohol abuse service, she was so inspired by the work being done that she arranged a training evening at the centre, inviting colleagues from her own store and nearby branches of the RMP chain. More than 20 people signed up and, as a result, the pharmacies are working together to expand their substance misuse service into the provision of safe foil for heroin use and safe boxes so that weekend supplies of methadone can be stored where children can’t get to them. “We have learned how to properly communicate with and help people from all walks of life,” says Annie. “It’s about working with them and not having a them-and-us attitude that can be the key to helping them find the right road.”

Women’s Aid and the Dementia Friends initiative are two more organisations Annie has worked with. Richard Stephenson, chief operating officer of the RMP group, put Annie’s name forward for the Innovation Award, having been impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication that fuels her to seek expertise from external agencies where she sees fit. However, Annie doesn’t see this as anything special, saying: “We have to be able to recognise vulnerable people, and they come from all walks of life. Just saying ‘hello, can I help you?’ shows that you are there and for some, it opens the door to them talking to you about what’s going on in their life, whether that’s domestic abuse or alcohol issues.”