Laura Walker is a vital member of the team at Right Medicine Pharmacy in the highland village of Balintore

“Throughout the last year our pharmacy has faced many challenges,” said pharmacy manager Joseph Smith. “Laura has rose to meet these on each occasion.”

As well as smoking cessation and anaphylaxis training, a large part of Laura’s time is dedicated to the pharmacy’s new hearing care services. “I’ve completed all my training for it and it’s like my little project in the pharmacy,” she says. 

“If it wasn’t for this service, patients would have been travelling a round trip of over 70 miles for treatment,” says Joseph. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that the benefits to some patients have been life-changing, giving many people better quality of hearing without the need for months of waiting.” 

“To advertise our services, we print leaflets and use ones provided by companies like Bupa,” explains Laura. “We also use Facebook which we find really beneficial, especially if we’re advertising something like a specific ear wax removal clinic to let people know our timings.”

The judges were full of praise for Laura’s dedication to her community. “Laura brought to life how community pharmacy is not just about dispensing but about care for patients through so many different services,” says Richard Dunne, senior manager learning and development at Boots UK. 

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