Forward Thinking Pharmacists take out Guild Awards at APP2016

A pharmacy staff dedicated to mental health services and a patient focused pharmacist intern have been awarded the Guild’s most prestigious awards at APP2016 this year.

Western Australia’s Pharmacy 777 at Nollamara took out Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2016.

Pictured Left to Right are Mena Botross, Somayyeh Atagazli, Gosia Andrysiak, Swarup Afsar

The award recognises pharmacies that are leading the way in providing innovative and optimal healthcare for members of their community, and was presented by the Minister for Health, Sussan Ley.

One of the judges of the award, pharmacist Bill Scott, said Pharmacy 777, which also won the category award for Professional Innovation, stood out for its consistency of offer and the fact that medicines and most minor health issues were dealt with by the pharmacists.

“This pharmacy has developed and maintained very close interactions with the community, and through these saw that the local area was generally under-serviced in the provision of mental health services,” Mr Scott said.  “They have worked with the doctors and the mental health services in the area for years. They saw the need for additional psychological counselling in the area. They very successfully employed a psychologist on staff.

The National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, George Tambassis, said Nollamarra 777 highlighted the transition pharmacy was going through in placing a greater focus on the delivery of professional services.  “Their innovative approach has not only boosted patient health outcomes but also aligned the pharmacy for growth in the future,” Mr Tambassis said.

Pharmacist intern Jessica Cahill was also honoured at APP this year, winning the Guild Intern of the Year at APP2016. (see iTherapeutics Facebook). Jessica was recognised for her multi-faceted career that has taken her from a busy pharmacy in Coffs Harbour to playing a key role in health education and compliance of indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.

Guild National President, George Tambassis, who presented the award said “Jessica’s career has spanned both community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy environments and demonstrates the enormous opportunities that are available to pharmacists in Australia.” “The Guild’s Intern of the Year Program encourages our young pharmacists to expand their horizons and provides a program that is flexible and supportive no matter their location.”

Source: Christopher Davis, Mar 23, 2016, www.guild.org.au/news-events/forefront/forefront-article/2016/03/23/forward-thinking-pharmacists-take-out-guild-awards-at-app2016, viewed 23 March 2016