In Recognition of Excellence 2015

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Winner of both the Pharmacy Technician of the Year Award and the top prize, The Spotlight Award, Leanne Beverley, shows just how versatile a career in pharmacy can be

Leanne joined Monarch Pharmacy in Coventry in 2003 and through sheer hard work and determination became a supervisor at the tender age of 19.

Her varied responsibilities include managing SOPs, information governance and staff training, as well as overseeing the general running of the pharmacy. As an accuracy checking technician (ACT), Leanne takes care of repeat prescriptions and a care home service and boasts a 100 per cent accuracy checking record. In addition, she is the named ‘responsible person’ for the pharmacy’s wholesale business.

Leanne believes passionately that the role of the pharmacy technician is vital to the future progress of community pharmacy because it “helps the flow and efficiency of the dispensing process and frees up the pharmacist to do more, such as training the pre-registration pharmacist or delivering MURs”.

Leanne says that the “sheer variety” is one of the things she enjoys most about pharmacy, and she relishes the opportunity to get involved when new services are introduced. Through Monarch Pharmacy’s successful smoking cessation service, Leanne has helped over 400 people to kick the habit since 2010, ranging from a 12-year-old schoolboy to a 94-year-old lady. She believes that the success of the pharmacy’s services is down to its friendly, approachable team of staff and its welcoming environment.

Not only has Leanne helped smokers to quit, she has also deterred young people from starting by delivering youth workshops at a local community college. The workshops cover everything from why people start smoking to its damaging effects and are delivered in an accessible style. “I believe prevention is better than cure, and if I have stopped one person from starting the habit, I’ve helped make a tiny dent in a huge social problem,” she says.

Another aspect of pharmacy life that Leanne loves is “the fact that we are such a strong part of the community and everyone knows your name”. She has taken the community setting of her role to heart and is actively involved in many charity projects, including organising Foodbank collections at the pharmacy, taking part in sponsored walks, runs and abseils, and even raising £3,500 by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Given these incredible achievements, it’s not surprising that judge Mimi Lau, director of pharmacy services at Numark, described Leanne as “a hard working and tenacious individual with a will to succeed,” while PAGB’s Helen Darracott felt that Leanne “demonstrates all the qualities pharmacy needs: energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and passion”.

Leanne herself was overwhelmed with her success at the TM event, and insisted: “I didn’t expect to win one award, let alone two!”