Pharmacy Business Awards celebrate Outstanding achievement

MORE than 900 leading professionals from the world of pharmacy gathered to salute ten outstanding community pharmacists at the Pharmacy Business Awards on Monday (September 28).

The premier industry black-tie event, now in its ninth year, drew some of the sector’s most powerful figures, including Stefano Pessina, the executive deputy chairman of Alliance Boots, and Andrew Lansley, Shadow Health Secretary and Justice minister Claire Ward.

This year the top award, the Pharmacy Business of the Year, presented to the best all round pharmacy, went to John Goes from Goes Pharmacy in Coventry. Mr Goes received a cheque for £4,000 and the prestigious accolade Pharmacy Business of the Year 2009.

Mr Lansley lauded the work of community pharmacists, noting that a “a million come through your doors” daily and felt that pharmacies played “an integral part of the healthcare system”.

The Shadow Health Secretary vowed to deal with the financial problems pharmacists are currently facing due to the Government's decision to clawback excess profits, and said he would strive to give the industry a “stable framework”, after the next general election.

Mrs Ward, standing in for the Government whose members were unable to attend because of the Labour Party Conference in Brighton this week, said there should be no doubt about the value of community pharmacists.

“The government recognises the invaluable role community pharmacies play and we will continue to make every effort to harness the skills, the dedication, and professionalism of community pharmacists right across the UK.”

In his address to the audience, Pharmacy Business Executive Editor Shailesh Solanki, urged the Government to “to invest in pharmacy and expand its role as a provider of first rate preventative care”.

Solanki added: “With a spiralling budget deficit there will be big cuts in public spending next year. The NHS will not be immune to these cuts.

“And our ageing population will only add pressure to our over stretched public health service. So it is important that the full resource and expertise of pharmacy is used to take pressure off doctors and hospitals.”

On reflection of the ninth annual Pharmacy Business Awards, Solanki said: “The awards have grown in stature in an incredibly short nine years. We are proud to celebrate the achievements of this great profession by recognising and rewarding the very best in community pharmacy.“

To award winner, Mr Goes, organised a phlebotomy service as the local one lurched into a crisis that left some people waiting for four hours. Mr Goes was one of the first to run weight management clinics and enjoys a reputation as a forward-thinking pharmacist who still remains close to the community he serves. Just what the high-powered judging panel led by Hemant Patel, the former president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) were looking for.

Other winners on the night included Jonathan Burton of Right Medicine Pharmacy based out of Banockburn in Stirling, Scotland, who won the award for Pharmacy Business Excellence in Patient Safety Award; Medipharmacy Group, headquartered in Croydon, who won the Pharmacy Business Best Practice Award; and Kaushik Patel of Jaywick Pharmacy in Clacton on Sea, who won the Pharmacy Business Community Award.

A total cash prize fund of £22,000 – the highest for any awards ceremony in the industry – was shared out by the winners.