Guild congratulates Community Pharmacy of the Year

Guild congratulates Community Pharmacy of the Year, Unichem Buchanans Pharmacy

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) congratulates Unichem Buchanans Pharmacy for winning the Community Pharmacy of the Year award at the 2015 Pharmacy Awards held on Saturday night (8 August).

This year’s awards ceremony was held at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland and saw approximately 420 pharmacy stakeholders from around the country attend the event.

Guild Chief Executive, Lee Hohaia says “The evening was dedicated to celebrating and recognising the exceptional work being done in the pharmacy sector across New Zealand. The Guild was extremely honoured to co-host the 2015 Pharmacy Awards for the very first time, along side Pharmacy Today.

“The Guild and PSL were also proud to again sponsor the Community Pharmacy of the Year award. This year the prestigious award went to Guild member pharmacy, Unichem Buchanans Pharmacy who was thoroughly deserving and epitomises the true value and nature of community pharmacy.

“The other two finalists in this category were Guild member pharmacies Pharmacy 547, and Bishopdale Unichem Pharmacy who are also doing outstanding work for their communities. The judges visited all three finalist pharmacies to see them in action and Unichem Buchanans Pharmacy was judged as the winner. We commend them on the fantastic work they are doing and for taking the time to share this work with the sector by entering the awards.

“Unichem Buchanans Pharmacy, is led by general manager Gemma Buchanan, and aims to empower Northlanders to have a great life through improved health. The pharmacy is located in Whangarei and includes four depots in areas without pharmacies.

“Unichem Buchanans Pharmacy incorporates a home healthcare centre, where solutions for improved mobility and independence are available to buy or hire. They specialise in sleep medicine and equipment for sleep apnoea, which is recognised as a growing health problem in Northland. They offer wound care with wound care consultations and dressings taking place in a private consultation room, and they also provide special education and counselling for patients going onto selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or anticoagulant medication.

“The pharmacy is also actively engaged with the community, supporting North Haven Hospice, interacting with local schools, taking part in Northland DHB programmes and doing health promotion campaigns.

“The judges commented that the entries in this category demonstrated the service innovation and leadership which is evolving in the pharmacy sector and that the finalists’ efforts are a clear statement of the integral role which pharmacy has to play in the delivery of primary health care.

“The high calibre of entries was consistent across all award categories with the judges commending all entrants on their efforts.

“The awards evening provided a fantastic opportunity to highlight the exceptional work that individual pharmacists, and pharmacy teams, are implementing in their various environments. The pharmacy sector has been turbulent over the past few years and it is inspiring to see such commitment to professional health care, service to patients, and contribution to the profession

prevail through this. This is a testament to the character and dedication of pharmacists and pharmacy staff around the country.”

The 2015 finalists and winners are:

Guild and PSL Community Pharmacy of the Year Winner: Gemma Buchanan, Unichem Buchanans Pharmacy Runners-up: Maria McIntyre and Amanda Nuttall, Unichem Bishopdale Pharmacy, and Ian McMichael, Pharmacy 547

MIMS Future Pharmacist of the Year Winner: Robert Haua, Auckland Pharmacy School Runner-up: Raffi Rassam, Auckland Pharmacy School

Douglas Young Pharmacist of the Year Winner: Michelle Whyte, Kawerau Pharmacy Runner-up: Leah Hodgkinson, Middlemore Hospital

GlaxoSmithKline "Good Sort" Pharmacist of the Year Winner: Marie Bennett, Unichem All Seasons Pharmacy Runner-up: Rajeshni Naidu, Middlemore Hospital

Unichem, Life, Care + Advice Innovation in Delivering Care and Advice Winner: Martin Harris, Unichem Massey Pharmacy Runner-up: Rachel Yang, Pharmacy 547

Aspen Pharmacare + Pamol Common Ailments Campaign of the Year Winner: Sarah Alani, Unichem Takapuna Pharmacy Runner-up: Geoff Brown, Unichem Lynn Mall Pharmacy

The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand Professional Service of the Year Winner: William Allan, Anne Denton, Brendan Duck, Vanessa Brown, Sue Ward and Di Vicary - Hawkes Bay DHB Runner-up: Leanne Te Karu, Darryn Russell, Wiremu Matthews, Mariana Hudson Nga Kaitiaki o Te Puna Rongoa o Aotearoa - The Maori Pharmacists' Association

PSL Technician Superstar Winner: Jo Batcup, Christchurch Hospital Runner-up: Sandra Edmondson, Christchurch Hospital

Voltaren Retail Superstars Winner: Jocelyn Knight, Katie Yu and Clair Connor - Life Pharmacy Botany Runner-up: Delwyn Galbraith, Care Pharmacy Hastings

Sanofi & Nature's Own Best Complementary Healthcare Campaign Winner: Clair Connor, Life Pharmacy Botany Runner-up: Mark Webster, Stay Well Pharmacy

Onelink Hospital Pharmacy Performer of the Year Winner: Avril Lee, Naomi Heap, Pat Alley and Dale Sheehan - North Shore Hospital Runner-up: Craig MacKenzie, Dunedin Hospital

Fuji Xerox Supplier Of The Year Winner: Mike Sierman, Douglas Pharmaceuticals Runner-up: Warren Smith, Jim Davis - Pharmabroker Sales

RB Supreme Winner Winner: Martin Harris, Unichem Massey Pharmacy

ENDS

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