“I absolutely love looking after people,” says Beth, who has worked in pharmacy for five years, having been inspired by her nan, who used to work in a pharmacy

Beth is now a carer for her nan and a dispensing assistant at Gun Lane Pharmacy in Rochester, Kent, and exudes compassion.

In her Customer Care Award entry, Beth said one of her most memorable customers was a woman with dementia who was lost and wandered into the pharmacy, panicked and crying. “I sat with her for over an hour,” says Beth. “I made her a cup of tea and asked for her permission to go into her bag to see if there was anyone I could contact.” Beth found a card that said “if I’m lost, call this number”. It was the number for a local care home, so Beth arranged a lift back for her and rang later to make sure she had arrived safely. She received chocolates as a thank you – as she has done from other customers, including one who thought she had sciatica so Beth pushed for a hospital appointment for her. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was a terminal brain tumour. “I just wish they could have found it sooner,” says Beth. “But her family are very grateful to me and have sent me flowers and chocolates. But I don’t do it for the reward: it’s my job.” 

Judge and former RoE Spotlight Award winner Haroon Mahmood says: “We need more Beths in the world!” Beth recieved highly commended in the Customer Care Award category.

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