Laura Bell has helped countless patients during her six years as a delivery driver for Day Lewis Pharmacy, Harold Hill in Essex. “I just use my common sense when I see that people need more than their meds dropping off,” she says. “You can’t leave people when they are in some sort of trouble”

When nominating Laura for the Outstanding Contribution Award, Azimah Peeroo, Day Lewis’ pharmacy services coordinator, highlighted the day Laura saved the life a patient who had suffered gas poisoning at home. “Had it not been for Laura’s swift actions, Roger would have most certainly been dead,” says Azimah.

Another patient had lost her mum and Laura found her sitting by the side of the road, saying that she wanted to end her life. “I sat with her and talked about her mum because I had known her, and talked about losing my own mum and managed to talk her round,” explains Laura. 

When she found another regular patient, who has diabetes, slumped on his sofa and saying he wanted to end his life, Laura intervened. “He had tried to get help but hadn’t managed to. I went along and told the GP that this patient wasn’t being looked after properly,” she explains. “He is now much better and his medication has been adjusted.”

Judge and AIM chief executive Leyla Hannbeck says: “This is what being dedicated to patient care about.” Laura recieved highly commended for the Outstanding Contribution Award.

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