Suffolk LPC service support officer Myra Battle was so bowled over by Lousie Drake that she nominated her for the Recognition of Excellence (RoE) Awards Pharmacy Champion category, and her belief was justified: the dispensing assistant from Boots UK in Lowestoft, Suffolk was awarded a highly commended

Myra describes Louise as “a driving force behind the team and local community”, drawing attention to the links she has forged with local surgeries and other pharmacies, and her focus on health checks. Under Louise’s guidance, the pharmacy has shifted from being a forgotten relation to a fundamental part of the local healthcare family, Myra asserts.

Steve Howard, RoE judge and superintendent pharmacist of McKesson UK, LloydsPharmacy’s parent company, said Louise’s entry “provided a clear description of how she has raised the profile of pharmacy and demonstrated how much value it adds to the health of our communities”. But principle associate of Pharmacy Complete Mike Holden was much pithier, saying: “Boots should clone Louise and put one in every branch!”