Kirby Sowden

Kirby Sowden 
Boots UK, Broadway Shopping Centre, 
Clinical Services Star Award
Highly Commended

“Kirby shows the future role community pharmacy will be playing with blood draw and partnering her patients to help them with a healthier future,” says Richard Dunne, RoE judge and senior manager pharmacy learning and development at Boots UK. It’s true, having recently trained as a phlebotomist, Kirby Sowden has gone from strength to strength and plays a significant role in the Our Future Health service. 

“As the lead phlebotomist, Kirby spearheads the service ensuring good management of the clinics availability of appointments and helps ensure a seamless service taking blood samples at the pharmacy which, recently has reached their 1,000th volunteer milestone,” says nominator and pharmacist, Muddassar Hussain. “When the clinic launched it was one out of four in the entire country and is a very unique service provided within the pharmacy. As a result of successful pioneering service, the Our Future Health is now expanding and opening more and more clinics.”

The role and the service does not come without its challenges too. “Kirby had to deal with a situation swiftly when a patient who had his three-year-old daughter with him, fainted,” explains Muddassar. “His daughter was very frightened with what was happening, Kirby had to keep the three-year-old calm and reassured by explaining that ‘daddy’s having a nap’. This was to put the child at ease as Kirby administered first aid to help the patient who had fainted back to recovery.” Having been with Boots UK for 12 years, Kirby demonstrates that you really can never stop creating successful moments instore.