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Photography Credit: Nathalie Crouch Photography
Above: Megan Davies
Megan Davies, Tyr Felin Pharmacy, Gorseinon, Swansea
The judges were impressed by Megan Davies’ nomination, which showed not only a brilliant clinical ability but also a compassionate team member whose care for patients is instinctive.
After volunteering in the pharmacy during the Covid-19 pandemic, Megan got a taster for what working in the pharmacy was like, and after completing her A-levels and a gap year, she decided to apply for a job in her local pharmacy.
She had done chemistry, biology and physics for A-levels, and felt that pharmacy would be a good fit, but especially as she liked the idea of helping people in a meaningful way.
A natural
“Meg has repeatedly shown diligence and enthusiasm for her work and studies, traits that seem to be so unique for someone so young,” said Megan’s nominator, Ayesha Nawaz.
“We are so pleased with her progress and ideas that we hope to appoint her as the Clinical Lead for Technical Services for the whole company once she qualifies – a testament to her aptitude, hard work and capability for a job that she’s only being doing for a few months.”
An example of Megan’s attention to detail is when she helped a pregnant customer, who came in saying she had been experiencing swelling, high fever and ongoing headache for more than 10 days, and the symptoms were getting worse. She explained to Megan that she had tried to get an appointment at her GP surgery, but was struggling.
Megan decided to call an independent prescriber in the pharmacy to book an appointment for the customer, which she was able to do the following day. In the meantime, she advised paracetamol.
The next day, the customer came in thanking Megan, as she had been diagnosed with sinusitis. This is just one of many crucial referrals and times when Megan took that extra step to ensure the highest standard of care for her patient.
On another occasion, she helped a customer whose partner had Parkinsons to understand their medication and re-wrote the instructions. She has also helped others to understand how to use their inhalers, and often calls patients to let them know if anything is out of stock.
Judges’ praise
“The conscientiousness with which she approaches her work and her studies make Megan a stand-out newcomer to pharmacy. She also cares about every patient and will always stay late if something needs to be done or deliver medicines to vulnerable patients,” said RoE judge and Training Matters editor, Lesley Neil.
“Her knowledge is also exemplary – and her ability to triage symptoms and identify red flags is impressive. Bright, helpful and caring, Megan is exactly the sort of new member you would love to have in your team, and is a well-deserved winner of this category.”
Calum Manik, Barming Pharmacy, Maidstone, Kent
Best Newcomer Highly Commended
“Two things about Calum stood out for me,” said RoE judge and Training Matters editor, Lesley Neil. “His obvious empathy for others, and his infectiously sunny personality. Both are simply running in his veins. Calum is someone who always puts others first, who always has a smile on his face, no matter how he is feeling, and who strives to make his pharmacy a welcoming environment for all.”
After only five months in the pharmacy, Calum was put forward for an RoE Award by his pharmacist. “Calum’s ability to grasp new concepts and adapt to our pharmacy’s procedures has been truly impressive. He has mastered the fundamentals of dispensing medications and is consistently accurate and efficient in his work,” said Sarah Hussain, pharmacist manager at Barming Pharmacy.
“In his short time here, Calum has shown a natural ability to connect with patients. He is patient, empathetic, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure our patients feel heard and understood. He takes the time to explain medication instructions clearly and answer his questions they may have.”
Not only does Calum strive to make life easier for his customers but he works hard to help his colleagues, too, always volunteering to help out where he can, or put his hand up to take on a task.
“Calum consistently looks for ways to assist his colleagues and improve our workflow. He is proactive in identifying potential issues and is always willing to take on new challenges,” said Sarah. “His positive energy and team spirit have also created a more supportive and enjoyable work environment for all of us.”
Helen Stansfield, Everest Pharmacy, Hoylake, Wirral
Best Newcomer Award Highly Commended
Helen Stansfield’s nomination stood out for its praise of Helen’s rapid learning ability, which has seen her pick up skills well beyond her post, and the understanding necessary to successfully help patients in the pharmacy.
“Helen possesses clinical knowledge that far exceeds her years of experience,” said Fiona Ashworth, Helen’s colleague and friend, who nominated her for the Award.
“She has demonstrated a high level of clinical governance by identifying and highlighting dangerous contraindications that could have resulted in significant patient harm, and possesses the communication skills and confidence of a senior pharmacy technician, with her ability to collaborate with the multidisciplinary teams. Her attention to detail is a vital asset to patient safety.”
Fiona also mentioned Helen’s innate ability to make every customer feel seen and listened to. “Beyond her technical skill, her rapport with patients is exemplary,” said Fiona. “She treats every customer as an individual, with dignity and care, going above and beyond, evidenced by the fact that she received a formal card of thanks from a patient after only three days in her current role.”
RoE judge Fiona Eveleigh, winner of the 2025 Spotlight Award, commented that despite Helen being a newcomer, she has already displayed “excellent leadership skills and is a good role model”.
Michelle Riddalls, PAGB chief executive, said: “Getting a thank-you card from a patient three days after being in her current role really shows the impact that she has made.”
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