OVER the past couple of years the team, led by pharmacist manager Sabina Yasmin, has revitalised the pharmacy after a period when customer relations were poor and team morale was low.

The team is now made up of the manager and a full-time dispenser, supported by four part time staff based at Stone Cross in the Market Square in Harlow.

The pharmacy is dispensing more prescriptions and has started to offer weight loss support, blood pressure measurement and a travel clinic alongside a range of NHS pharmacy services such as flu vaccination and methadone/buprenorphine provision for those being treated for opiate dependence.

The team has held together well during the coronavirus pandemic and has remained open throughout. Sabina says the pharmacy’s accessibility has meant prescription numbers and counter sales have “shot through the roof”.

Despite staff absences due to sickness the team pulled together to ensure the pharmacy was able to keep up with the demands from patients. The team staggered their starting and finishing times and took turns in disinfecting the store to prevent further Covid infections. “I saw local GP surgeries struggling, and this was our opportunity to showcase our services and the advice we can provide,” Sabina says

The Awards, run annually by Independent Community Pharmacist magazine, are open to pharmacies across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Awards are normally presented at the House of Commons but went virtual this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic: they celebrate the achievements of independent community pharmacies and their teams.